# Houston Fire Department

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**City of Houston Fire Department** (**HFD**) is the agency that provides fire protection and [emergency medical services](/source/Emergency_medical_services) for the city of [Houston](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Cullen_Center)) in [Downtown Houston](/source/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](/source/Volunteer_fire_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](/source/Southwest_Inn_fire)

On May 31, 2013, the *Southwest Inn fire* broke out in an Indian restaurant in [Southwest Houston](/source/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](/source/Colorado) on March 7, 2017, after a short hospitalization for [pneumonia](/source/Pneumonia) and [cellulitis](/source/Cellulitis), attributed to his injuries.[8]

### 2016 Houston Fire

After the spreading of a backyard fire in [Spring Branch](/source/Spring_Branch,_Houston), [Houston](/source/Houston), [Texas](/source/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 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 602, 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 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 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 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 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](/source/Hurricane_Harvey) plan to replace fire station 104 for $11 million.[11]

## References

1. ["About the HFD"](http://houstontx.gov/fire/about). *Houston Fire Department*. Retrieved 6 April 2015.

1. ["Fire Stations"](http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/). *Houston Fire Department*. Retrieved 14 April 2015.

1. ["HFD Coverage Area"](http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/abouthfd/index.html)

1. ["Regulated departments by size"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150419081810/http://www.tcfp.texas.gov/reports/DeptSize.asp). *Texas Commission on Fire Protection*. Texas Commission on Fire Protection. Archived from [the original](http://www.tcfp.texas.gov/reports/DeptSize.asp) on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.

1. "[Contact Us](https://houstontx.gov/fire/contacthfd.html)." Houston Fire Department, City of Houston. Retrieved on June 13, 2017. "500 Jefferson, Suite 1700 Houston, TX 77002"

1. "[Home Page](https://web.archive.org/web/20101101120212/http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/)." Houston Fire Department. Retrieved on November 20, 2011. "1205 Dart Street Houston, Texas 77007 "

1. Pinkerton, James & Lezon, Dale (1 June 2013). ["Massive blaze in SW Houston kills 4 firefighters"](https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Massive-blaze-in-SW-Houston-kills-4-firefighters-4566085.php). *Houston Chronicle*. Retrieved 2013-06-01. "It was the department's worst loss of life ever."

1. ["HFD hero 'Iron Bill' Dowling has died", by Keri Blakinger and Brooke A. Lewis, *The Houston Chronicle*](https://www.chron.com/houston/article/HFD-hero-Iron-Bill-Dowling-has-died-10984801.php)

1. ["Four-alarm fire burns at business in west Houston"](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/four-alarm-fire-burns-at-business-in-west-houston/ar-BBsGaHn?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout). *www.msn.com*

1. ["4-Alarm Fire Ravages West Houston Warehouse Complex"](https://abcnews.go.com/US/alarm-fire-ravages-west-houston-warehouse-complex/story?id=38901447). *ABC News*

1. Morris, Mike (2018-06-18). ["Want Houston to fix your street, park or library? Harvey may delay the job"](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/houston/article/Want-Houston-to-fix-your-street-park-or-library-13004941.php). *[Houston Chronicle](/source/Houston_Chronicle)*. Retrieved 2019-12-28.

## External links

- [Houston Fire Department](http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/)
- [Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association](http://www.local341.org/)
- [Houston Fire Fighters Calendar](http://www.firefighterscalendar.org/)
- [Houston Fire Museum](http://www.houstonfiremuseum.org/)
- [Houston Fire Fire Fighter Memorial Web Site](http://www.houstonfirememorial.org/)
- [Houston Fire Station Google Map](https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=104907688956724776253.00045382b83c34f1a2cb3&z=10/)
- [Houston Firefighters' Bagpipe & Drummer Corps](http://www.hfdpipes.com/)
- [Houston Fire Station 68](http://www.firehouse68.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Houston Fire Department](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Fire_Department) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Fire_Department?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.