Houston Fire Department


Book Description

Houston's firefighting service began in 1838 with the founding of Protection Fire Company No. 1. As the city of Houston grew throughout the early and mid-19th century, volunteer companies formed and grew along with it. By 1895, city leaders decided to form the Houston Fire Department as a city department, culling the volunteer forces for men, stations, apparatus, and horses. The city grew in leaps and bounds, swallowing up neighborhoods, communities, and smaller cities along the way, with the fire department nipping at their heels. This brave force battled devastating fires throughout the years, most notably the Great Fifth Ward Fire in 1912, the 1943 Gulf Hotel Fire, the Woodway Square Apartment Conflagration in 1979 and the Southwest Inn Fire in 2013. What was once a smattering of volunteer fire brigades has grown into an imposing force of over 3,000 firefighters protecting over two million people in the fourth largest city in the United States.










Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study


Book Description

This analysis sought to identify trends in mortality and examine relationships among data elements. To this end, data were collected on firefighter fatalities between 1990 and 2000. (For further information, see the "Methodology" section or the Appendix.) Using this analysis, better targeted prevention strategies can be developed in keeping with the USFA's goal to reduce firefighter deaths 25 percent by 2005. In contrast to the annual USFA firefighter fatality reports, this analysis allowed for comparisons over time to determine any changes in firefighter mortality, with a depth of scrutiny not present in earlier analyses.







Engine Company Fireground Operations


Book Description

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Jones & Bartlett Learning are pleased to bring you the fourth edition of Engine Company Fireground Operations. This expanded edition incorporates the latest recommendations from UL and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) into every aspect of fire attack and ventilation and presents an extensive study of engine company fire ground operations.This new edition is an ideal resource for fire service personnel preparing for promotion or studying for a civil service examination.Firefighters and company officers will gain knowledge in fire science, building construction, and the effects of burning modern fuels that result in extreme fire behavior.Specific features include:Detailed illustrations that show the tactics and approaches described in each chapterCase studies of strategies and tactics that resulted in firefighter line of duty deaths, as well as those that were successful, incorporated into the recommended practices of engine company fire attack, rescue, and ventilationDetailed information on size-up that applies risk management principles to the Value-Time-Size method, which considers survivability profiling and threshold limits, identifying problems, selecting strategies and tactics, developing a quick incident action plan, and applying a functional accountability system for safetyA significant emphasis on attacking residential and commercial basement firesA one-of-its-kind chapter on fireground operations and responsibilities for company level high-rise firefighting, with special attention paid to fire behavior within high-rise buildingsIn-depth coverage of all the basic engine company responsibilities, including:EquipmentInitial hose lays and water suppliesThe deployment of attack, back-up, and exposure hose linesRapid intervention teamsSearch and rescueMaster streamsFire protection systemsStandpipe operationsSalvage and overhaul










The City Record


Book Description