Harris County ESD 12 Firefighters from Station 14 and Station 24 participated in a total of six tours at the newly constructed 380,000 square foot Weida Freight System warehouse located at 13230 Crosby Freeway. The tours hosted by Weida Freight System covered the warehouse built-in fire protection systems; electrical distribution systems and shut off locations; and warehousing storage processes.

Harris County ESD 12 Firefighters from Station 14 and Station 24 participated in a total of five tours at the newly constructed 650,000 square foot Chewy Distribution Center at 13250 Crosby Freeway. The tours were hosted by Crossland Construction Company. The hosted tours covered the Chewy Distribution Center’s building access; built in fire protection systems; electrical distribution systems and shut down locations; and automated packaging systems.

Seven new employees (six Firefighters and one Driver/Engineer) successfully completed orientation training on April 14, 2023. The training was conducted at Harris County ESD 12 Station 14 and Station 24, Channelview Fire Department Station 3, and the City of Deer Park Don H. Davis Training Center. All of the employees have been assigned to a Shift and Station.  The new employees continue their probationary training. The continued training consists of mastering and maintaining their Firefighter and Driver/Engineer skills; knowledge of Department operation; emergency medical care; knowledge of street and firefighting water supply locations; and knowledge of multi-family occupancies, industrial and commercial occupancy locations.

Assistant Fire Chief Marshall Hutton and District Chief James Novick recently received the Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD) from The Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).

In 1986, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) came together to develop a framework for continuous improvement of the fire and emergency service. By 1996, this led to the formation of the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) to award accreditation to fire and emergency service agencies. In 2000, the Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation was established to credential fire and emergency service officers. In 2006, the corporation’s name was changed to the Center for Public Safety Excellence, with CFAI and the, now-titled, Commission on Professional Credentialing became entities under CPSE.

From its inception, CPSE has valued having a diversity of involvement from organizations, including IAFC, ICMA, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Fire Protection Association, the Insurance Services Office, and the Department of Defense on the CPSE board and commissions.

Chief Hutton and Chief Novick have accepted the challenge to move the Nation’s Fire Service forward to a higher standard of service. Fire Chief Russell received the CFOD in 2003. Chief Hutton, Chief Novick, and Fire Chief Russell are required to validate their CFOD every three years. The validation process includes specific training, research, career development, and peer review by the CPSE.

Chief Hutton and Chief Novick Receive the CPSE – CFOD

In Recognition of Efforts to Maintain Minimum Staffing Levels during the National Pandemic

 March 1, 2020 through June 30, 2022

   91 to 100 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

Captain Brian Bunnell

92 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

(2,208 Extra Hours)

 81 to 90 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

Captain James Marino

85 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

(2,040 Extra Hours)

Engineer Paul Diaz

81 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

(1,944 Extra Hours)

Engineer Sean Peterson

81 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

 (1,992 Extra Hours)

71 to 80 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

Firefighter Gordy Bosie

77 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

(1,848 Extra Hours)

61 to 70 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

Firefighter Jarrod McCarty

69 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

(1,656 Extra Hours)

Firefighter Jarvis Russell

 62 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

(1,488 Extra Hours)

Captain David Lee

61 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

  (1,464 Extra Hours)

51 to 60 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

Firefighter Ricardo Rangel-Hernandez

51 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

(1,224 Extra Hours)

Captain David Powers

54 Extra 24-Hour Shifts

(1,296 Extra Hours)

Four Harris County ESD Fire Department Captains and Firefighters from across the country, participated in the 3-Day Arkema Inc. National Industrial Fire Training. The training was conducted at Texas A&M University, Brayton Fire Training Field, in College Station, Texas. Training consisted of classroom, and daytime/nighttime industrial process unit live fire training. The following Departments were present:

Ball FD, Pineville, LA; Holiday Village Fire Department, Pineville, LA: Ruby-Kolin FD, Ruby, LA

Upper Merion Fire and EMS, Upper Merion, PA; West Chester Fire Department, West Chester, PA

Beaumont Fire and Rescue, Beaumont, TX; Harris County ESD 12 Fire Department, Houston, TX; La Porte FD, La Port, TX

 Arkema Inc. is a specialized materials manufacturer. Arkema Inc. has a facility in the Harris County ESD 12 Fire Department’s response area, facilities located in the United States and throughout the World.

Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas Firefighters and Instructors

Harris County ESD 12 Captains

HCESD 12 Captains

On January 31, 2023, Captain David Lee retired after serving over 22 combined years of service with the Cloverleaf Volunteer Fire Department and Harris County ESD 12 Fire Department (from 2001-2014 Duty Crew, 2014-2018 Part-Time Driver/Engineer, and 2018-2023 as Full-Time Captain). 

Captain David Lee was presented a Service Award for his 22 years of service to the Community and Department by Fire Chief Edward Russell and Assistant Fire Chief Marshall Hutton.

Harris County ESD 12 Fire Department District 14, Engine 14, Engine 24, and Ladder 24 responded to an early morning building fire on Victoria Street. Harris County ED 12 Fire Department Engine 14 Firefighters brought the fire under control within 1 minute and 4 seconds after arrival. North Channel EMS, Channelview Fire Department, and Sheldon Community Fire Department also responded to the fire.

District 14 – Victoria Street Arrival Conditions

Engine 14 – Victoria Street Arrival Conditions

Engine 14 Fire Under Control 1 Minute and 4 Seconds After Arrival

Harris County ESD 12 Fire Department Engine 14 assisted the Port of Houston Fire Department for a ship compartment fire at an Industrial Road dock. The fire was initially brought under control by ship crew members. The Galena Park Fire Department also provided assistance.

District Chief 14 Arrival Conditions – Ship Crew Members Extinguishing Interior Compartment Fire, Other Ship Crew Members Cooling Exterior Wall of Compartment

Engine 14 Arrives to Support Ship Crew Members with Extinguishment and Cooling Metal Compartment with Water