History

Harris County ESD 12 Fire Department provides Fire Protection, Rescue, and Medical First Responder services to an unincorporated area located on the east side of Harris County.

The Department operates from two stations that protect approximately 55,000 residents with additional 5,000 daytime visitors and workers (2020 Census), located within a 9.75 square mile response district (source: 2021 Harris County Appraisal District Property Use Category Recap). An older 3.2 square mile part of the Department’s response district contains 24,100 persons and is one of most densely populated areas within Harris County (7,531 persons per square mile – 2020 Census).

The response district contains commercial, educational, industrial, marine, multi-family, and one-family occupancies. The district also contains sections of Interstate 10, the Sam Houston Toll Road, and several railroads.

The Department has a Career Staff consisting of 4 Administrative Staff personnel and 42 Fire Operations personnel authorized in the 2023 Budget. The Department strives to maintain a minimum level of 12 firefighters (1-District Chief; 3-Captains [Company Officers]; 3 Engineers [Drivers]; and 5 Firefighters) on duty 24 hours-a-day, everyday.

The Department has an Insurance Service Office – Public Protection Classification (PPC) of an ISO Class 1, resulting in lower fire insurance costs to property owners.

The Department is operated by Harris County Emergency Services District 12.