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]
Operational area | |
---|---|
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
City | Houston |
Address | 500 Jefferson St, 77002 |
Agency overview[1] | |
Established | 1838 |
Annual calls | 341,166 (2017) |
Employees | 3,700+ (2018) |
Annual budget | $495,171,980 (2018) |
Staffing | Career |
Fire chief | Thomas Muñoz |
EMS level | Advanced Life Support (ALS) |
IAFF | IAFF Local 341 |
Motto | Courage, Commitment, & Compassion |
Facilities and equipment[1][2] | |
Stations | 93 Fire Stations |
Engines | 88 Engine Companies |
Trucks | 38 Truck Companies |
Rescues | 3 Rescue Units |
Ambulances |
|
HAZMAT | 3 Hazardous Materials Units |
Airport crash | 12 Crash Trucks |
Wildland | 11 Wildland Units |
Helicopters | 1 Helicopter |
Fireboats | 1 Fireboat |
Rescue boats | 13 Rescue Boats |
Light and air | 3 Light and Air Units |
Website | |
Official website | |
IAFF website |
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
editSouthwest Inn Fire
editOn 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
editAfter 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
editBelow 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 | Medic Units or Squad Units | Ambulance Units | Special Unit | District Chief Units | District |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 5880 Woodway | Engine 2 | Ambulance 2 | Cascade 2 | 28 | |||
3 | 3735 W. Alabama | Engine 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 Unit 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 Unit | 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 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 17, 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 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 Unit 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 | 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
edit-
Houston Fire Station Nr. 3 from the 1800s. It's on the National Register of Historic Places
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Houston Fire Station No. 7 was built in 1898. Today it's the Houston Fire Museum & on the National Register of Historic Places
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Group photo of firefighters from Station 1–1932
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Continental Center II (1801 Smith) of the Cullen Center houses the HFD administrative offices
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City of Houston Fire Department Logistical Center & Maintenance Depot
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HFD Firefighters' Memorial in northern Houston
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Fire Station 3
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Fire Station 7
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Fire Station 8
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Fire Station 16
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Fire Station 18
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Fire Station 25
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Fire Station 28 at 3000 Chimney Rock
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Fire Station 33
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Braeswood Place
References
edit- ^ a b c d "About the HFD". Houston Fire Department. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Fire Stations". Houston Fire Department. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- ^ "HFD Coverage Area".
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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"
- ^ "Home Page." Houston Fire Department. Retrieved on November 20, 2011. "HFD Administration HFD Administration 500 Jefferson Street, 17th Floor 77002"
- ^ 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."
- ^ "HFD hero 'Iron Bill' Dowling has died", by Keri Blakinger and Brooke A. Lewis, The Houston Chronicle
- ^ "Four-alarm fire burns at business in west Houston". www.msn.com.
- ^ "4-Alarm Fire Ravages West Houston Warehouse Complex". ABC News.
- ^ 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.