Houston Fire Department
Operational area
Country United States
State Texas
City Houston
Address500 Jefferson St, 77002
Agency overview[1]
Established1838 (1838)
Annual calls341,166 (2017)
Employees3,700+ (2018)
Annual budget$495,171,980 (2018)
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefSamuel Peña
EMS levelAdvanced Life Support (ALS)
IAFFIAFF Local 341
MottoCourage, Commitment, & Compassion
Facilities and equipment[1][2]
Stations93 Fire Stations
Engines88 Engine Companies
Trucks38 Truck Companies
Rescues3 Rescue Units
Ambulances
HAZMAT3 Hazardous Materials Units
Airport crash12 Crash Trucks
Wildland11 Wildland Units
Helicopters1 Helicopter
Fireboats1 Fireboat
Rescue boats13 Rescue Boats
Light and air3 Light and Air Units
Website
Official website
IAFF website

City of Houston Fire Department (HFD) is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Houston, Texas, United States, the fourth largest city in the United States. HFD is responsible for preserving life and property for a population of more than 2 million in an area totaling 654 square miles (1,690 km2).[3] The department is the largest fire department (by number of personnel) in the state of Texas.[4]

The administrative offices of HFD are located on the 17th floor of 500 Jefferson Street (a part of the Cullen Center) in Downtown Houston.[5] They were previously located at the City of Houston Fire Department Logistical Center & Maintenance Depot.[6]

The Houston Fire Department got its start in 1838 with one station known as Protection Company No. 1.[1] By 1859, the volunteer department had grown to three stations. After 57 years of service, Houston converted the department over to all paid members.[1]

Notable Incidents

Southwest Inn Fire

Main article: Southwest Inn fire

On May 31, 2013, the Southwest Inn fire broke out in an Indian restaurant in Southwest Houston before spreading to an adjoining hotel. The fire claimed the biggest casualty loss for the Houston Fire Department since its inception. Four firefighters were killed and 13 others were injured while fighting the five-alarm fire at the Southwest Inn.[7] "Iron" Bill Dowling, who lost his legs and damaged his brain in the fire, died in Colorado on March 7, 2017, after a short hospitalization for pneumonia and cellulitis, attributed to his injuries.[8]

2016 Houston Fire

After the spreading of a backyard fire in Spring Branch, Houston, Texas, a packaging warehouse burned down during a four-alarm fire which included exploding canisters of hazardous material. Nearly 200 firefighters were dispatched to the site over several hours. As of May 2016, the initial cause of the fire remains unknown.[9][10]

1979 Woodway Square Apartment Fire

Late in the afternoon of July 31, 1979, a call came in for an apartment fire at the Woodway Square Apartments in Houston. First units arriving immediately started calling for help as the high winds were fanning flames across the wood shingle roofs. Flames were jumping building to building and embers were entering the neighborhoods igniting roofs.

In all 7 alarms were called for which included equipment backed into Houston Fire stations from Cy-Fair, Little York and Northwest Volunteer Fire Departments.

Hundreds lost everything they owned. At one point it was discussed using explosives to demolish one building to make a fire break. As firefighters worked on controlling the apartment fire, booster trucks were tasked with driving through the neighborhoods extinguishing spot fires on roofs of homes.

On the day of the fire, the Houston Fire Department requested the city to ban wood shingles. They refused but the day after the fire they decided to ban them. In that day and age, most new homes had wood shingles and they were required by homeowners associations

Stations and Apparatus

Below is a listing of all Houston Fire Department fire stations and their assigned apparatus.[2]

Fire Station Number Address Engine Company Ladder Company or Tower Company Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Transport Medic Unit Emergency Medical Services (EMS)Transport Ambulance Special Unit District Chief Unit District
2 5880 Woodway Engine 2 Ambulance 2 Cascade Unit 2 28
3 3735 W. Alabama Engine 3 Medic 3 Ambulance 503 28
4 6530 W. Little York Engine 4 Ladder 4 Ambulance 4 District Chief 4 4
5 2020 Hollister Engine 5 Ambulance 5 High-Water Vehicle 5 District Chief 5 5
6 3402 Washington Engine 6 Tower 6 Medic 6 District Chief 6 6
7 1402 Elgin Engine 7 Ladder 7 Ambulance 7 8
8 1919 Louisiana Engine 1
Engine 8		 Squad 8 Ambulance 8 Ambulance 508 Mobile Command Unit, AMBUS 8, Rehab 8 District Chief 8 8
9 702 Hogan Engine 9 Medic 9 Ambulance 9 19
10 6600 Corporate Engine 10 Medic 10 Ambulance 10 Rescue 10, 2 Rescue Boats 83
11 460 T.C. Jester Engine 11 Ambulance 11 Heavy Rescue 11, Evacuation Boat, 2 Rescue Boats, EMS District Chief 6
12 1502 Alber Engine 12 Ambulance 12 19
13 2215 W. 43rd Engine 13 Ambulance 13 31
15 5306 N. Main Engine 15 Ambulance 15 Shift Commander 15, Cascade Unit 15, Sr. EMS Supervisor 15 6
16 1700 Richmond Engine 16 Ladder 16 Ambulance 16 EMS Supervisor 16 6
17 2805 Navigation Engine 17 Medic 17 Ambulance 17 Rehab Unit, Rescue Boat, EMS Supervisor 17 8
18 619 Telephone Engine 18 Tower 18 Medic 18 Ambulance 18 20
19 1801 Gregg Engine 19 Ladder 19 Medic 19 Ambulance 19 District Chief 19 19
20 6902 Navigation Engine 20 Ladder 20 Ambulance 20 District Chief 20 20
21 10515 Main Engine 21 Tower 21 Ambulance 21 High-Water Vehicle 21 District Chief 21 21
22 7825 Harrisburg HMRT Unit 1, HMRT Unit 2 Foam 22 22
23 8005 Lawndale Engine 23 Ambulance 23 Cascade Unit 23 20
24 2625 Reed Rd Haz-Mat Engine 24 Medic 24 Ambulance 524 Safety Officer 24 46
25 3902 Scott Engine 25 Ambulance 25 8
26 7111 Dixie Engine 26 Ladder 26 Ambulance 26 District Chief 26 26
27 6515 Lyons Engine 27 Medic 27 Ambulance 27 19
28 3000 Chimney Rock Engine 28 Ladder 28 Squad 28 Ambulance 28 District Chief 28 28
29 4831 Galveston Engine 29 Ladder 29 Medic 29 26
30 6702 Irvington Engine 30 Ambulance 30 Safety Officer 30, EMS Supervisor 30 31
31 222 W. Crosstimbers Engine 31 Ladder 31 Medic 31 Ambulance 31 District Chief 31 31
32 8614 Tidwell Engine 32 Ambulance 32 Booster 32, Evacuation Boat 34
33 7117 Fannin Engine 33 Ladder 33 Squad 33 Ambulance 33 Ambulance 533 Sr. EMS Supervisor 33 21
34 3100 Laura Koppe Engine 34 Ladder 34 Medic 34 Ambulance 34 District Chief 34 34
35 5535 Van Fleet Engine 35 Ambulance 35 Booster 35, Evacuation Boat 46
36 7720 Airport Blvd Engine 36 Medic 36 Ambulance 36 EMS Supervisor 36 26
37 7026 Stella Link Engine 37 Ambulance 37 Shift Commander, High-Water Vehicle 37 21
38 1120 Silber Engine 38 Ladder 38 Ambulance 38 5
39 5810 Pickfair Engine 39 Ambulance 39 34
40 5830 Old Spanish Trail Engine 40 Medic 40 Ambulance 40 26
41 805 Pearl Engine 41 Ambulance 41 45
42 8675 Clinton Dr Engine 42 Rescue 42, Evacuation Boat, 2 Rescue Boats 20
43 7330 N. Wayside Engine 43 Medic 43 34
44 675 Maxey Engine 44 Ladder 44 Medic 44 45
45 4910 N. McCarty Engine 45 Ladder 45 High-Water Vehicle 45 District Chief 45 45
46 3902 Corder Engine 46 Ladder 46 Squad 46 Ambulance 46 District Chief 46 46
47 2615 Tidewater Engine 47 Ambulance 47 59
48 11616 Chimney Rock Engine 48 Ambulance 48 59
49 1212 Gessner Engine 49 Medic 49 5
50 4420 Bingle Engine 50 Medic 50 EMS Supervisor 50 4
51 6902 Bellaire Engine 51 Ladder 51 Ambulance 51 68
52 10343 Hartsook Engine 52 Ambulance 52 70
53 13349 Vicksburg Engine 53 45
54 George Bush
Intercontinental Airport		 AR-8 ARFF Units ARFF
55 11212 Cullen Engine 55 Ladder 55 Medic 55 Ambulance 55 46
56 5820 E. Little York Engine 56 Ladder 56 Medic 56 Ambulance 56 34
57 13602 Memorial Engine 57 Safety Officer 57 78
58 10413 Fulton Engine 58 Medic 58 Ambulance 58 High-Water Vehicle 58 31
59 13925 S. Post Oak Engine 59 Ladder 59 Medic 59 District Chief 59 59
60 2925 Jeanetta Engine 60 Medic 60 Ambulance 60 28
61 9726 Monroe Engine 61 Ladder 61 70
62 1602 Seamist Engine 62 Medic 62 6
63 5626 Will Clayton Pkwy Haz-Mat Engine 63 Medic 63 Booster 63, Evacuation Boat 64
64 3000 Greens Rd Engine 64 Tower 64 Ambulance 64 District Chief 64 64
65 11531 FM 1960 East Engine 65 Medic 65 Booster 65, Fire Boat 65 102
66 5800 Teague Haz-Mat Engine 66 Booster 66, Evacuation Boat, HMRT Unit 3 4
67 1616 W. Little York Engine 67 Ladder 67 Medic 67 Ambulance 67 4
68 8602 Bissonnet Engine 68 Ladder 68 Medic 68 Ambulance 68 District Chief 68 68
69 1102 West Belt South Engine 69 Tower 69 Ambulance 69 EMS Supervisor 69 83
70 11410 Beamer Engine 70 Medic 70 District Chief 70 70
71 15200 Space Center Engine 71 Ladder 71 Medic 71 High-Water Vehicle 71 District Chief 71 71
72 17401 Saturn Ln Engine 72 Medic 72 71
73 9640 Wilcrest Engine 73 Medic 73 Ambulance 73 Ambulance 573 68
74 460 Aldine Bender Engine 74 Medic 74 Ambulance 74 64
75 1995 Dairy Ashford Engine 75 Ladder 75 Medic 75 78
76 7200 Cook Engine 76 Ladder 76 Ambulance 76 83
77 10155 Kempwood Engine 77 Ladder 77 Ambulance 77 Booster 77, Rescue Boat 5
78 15100 Memorial Engine 78 Ladder 78 Medic 78 High-Water Vehicle 78 District Chief 78 78
80 16111 Chimney Rock Engine 80 Medic 80 Ambulance 80 Booster 80, Evacuation Boat 59
81 William P. Hobby Airport ARFF Units ARFF
82 11250 Braesridge Haz-Mat Engine 82 Squad 82 Ambulance 82 Evacuation Boat 82, EMS Supervisor 82 68
83 3350 Breezewood Engine 83 Medic 83 Ambulance 83 District Chief 83 83
84 320 Gears Rd Engine 84 Ladder 84 Ambulance 84 High-Water Vehicle 84 64
86 14300 Briar Forest Engine 86 Medic 86 78
90 16553 Park Row Engine 90 Ladder 90 Ambulance 90 78
92 George Bush
Intercontinental Airport		 ARFF Units ARFF
93 911 FM 1959 Engine 93 Ladder 93 Ambulance 93 Booster 93, Evacuation Boat 70
94 235 El Dorado Engine 94 Medic 94 71
96 7409 Willowchase Engine 96 Ladder 96 Medic 96 4
99 George Bush
Intercontinental Airport		 ARFF Units ARFF
101 1863 Kingwood Dr Ladder 101 Medic 101 Booster 101, Evacuation Boat 102
102 4102 W. Lake Houston Pkwy Engine 102 Ladder 102 Medic 102 High-Water Vehicle 102 District Chief 102 102
103 2907 High Valley Dr Engine 103 Booster 103, Evacuation Boat 102
104 910 Forest Cove Dr Engine 104 102
105 14014 W. Lake Houston Pkwy Engine 105 Medic 105 102

In 2018 there was a post-Hurricane Harvey plan to replace fire station 104 for $11 million.[11]

Gallery

References

  1. ^ a b c d "About the HFD". Houston Fire Department. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Fire Stations". Houston Fire Department. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  3. ^ "HFD Coverage Area".
  4. ^ "Regulated departments by size". Texas Commission on Fire Protection. Texas Commission on Fire Protection. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Contact Us." Houston Fire Department, City of Houston. Retrieved on June 13, 2017. "HFD Administration 832.394.6700 600 Jefferson, 7th Floor Houston, Texas 77002"
  6. ^ "Home Page." Houston Fire Department. Retrieved on November 20, 2011. "HFD Administration HFD Administration 500 Jefferson Street, 17th Floor 77002"
  7. ^ Pinkerton, James; Lezon, Dale (1 June 2013). "Massive blaze in SW Houston kills 4 firefighters". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2013-06-01. "It was the department's worst loss of life ever."
  8. ^ "HFD hero 'Iron Bill' Dowling has died", by Keri Blakinger and Brooke A. Lewis, The Houston Chronicle
  9. ^ "Four-alarm fire burns at business in west Houston". www.msn.com.
  10. ^ "4-Alarm Fire Ravages West Houston Warehouse Complex". ABC News.
  11. ^ Morris, Mike (2018-06-18). "Want Houston to fix your street, park or library? Harvey may delay the job". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-12-28.

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