Country United States City Houston Annual calls 332,963 (2015) | State Texas Established 1838 (1838) Employees 3,810(2014) | |
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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 617 square miles (1,600 km2). The department is the largest fire department (by number of personnel) in the state of Texas.
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The administrative offices of HFD are located on the 7th floor of Continental Center II (600 Jefferson) in the Cullen Center in Downtown Houston. They were previously located at the City of Houston Fire Department Logistical Center & Maintenance Depot.
The Houston Fire Department got its start in 1838 with one station known as Protection Company No. 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.
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. "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.
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.
Station and apparatus
Below is a listing of all fire stations and their apparatus.