Spring Fire Department
Encyclopedia
The Spring Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) is a combination fire department
located in Spring, Texas
, in unincorporated
Harris County
. It is the third largest volunteer fire department in Harris County following Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department
and Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department
. Under contract with Harris County Emergency Services District #7, The SVFD is responsible for fire protection for an area approximately 115 square miles (297.8 km²) with nearly 110,000 residents. As a part of the "FM 1960 Area Fire Departments", Spring's apparatus are designated as the "7 Series", where all units start with the number 7.
located near the Bayer Lumber Yard. The first apparatus were donated from surrounding departments. The fire department received income from private donations and pledges that lasted twenty years.
In 1984, a taxing authority known as the Harris County Rural Fire Prevention District #1 was formed, allowing a tax board and budget to maintain the department rather than relying on simply donations. In 1997, Harris County Emergency Services District #7 replaced HCRFPD #1, and further expanded the budget of the department.
On March 2, 1985, District Chief
Michael West was killed fighting a 3 alarm fire
off of Spring Cypress Road. He is the only firefighter of Spring to date to have been killed in the line of duty.
In June 2011, a new administration building and station was completed at the intersection of Lexington and Louetta Road. The administration which was housed at Station 75, was moved to the new administration building. The new station has taken over as station 71, with the old station 71 located in Old Town Spring changed to station 78 temporarily.
The following positions are the current Leadership:
Fire Chief - Eric Anderson
Assistant Fire Chief - Scott Seifert
Deputy Chief (Suppression) - Jerod Davenport
Deputy Chief (Support) - Scott Schoonover
Training Chief - Robert Logan
District Chief 70 (Duty Crew) - Shannon Stryk
District Chief 71 (Central) - Joshua Posey
District Chief 72 (West) - Joel Crenshaw
District Chief 73 (East) - Donny Guedry
District 72 (West)
District 73 (East)
All ladders are 2001 E-One
HP-75 Sidestacker "Quints" with 75' aerial ladders.
3 Engines are 2009 Crimson Gladiator Pumpers, with the remaining one a 2007 Crimson Gladiator.
Both Rescues are 2001 E-One Cyclone II Rescue Pumpers, equipped with two sets of Holmatro hydraulic rescue tools
.
Both Tankers are 2001 E-One Cyclone II Tankers, with a water tank capacity of 3500 Gallons. Both Boosters are E-One Boosters on Ford F-550 chassis.
The fire suppression district in which Spring Volunteer Fire Department serves, has Emergency Medical Services
that are provided by Cypress Creek EMS
, as the Spring Fire Department has no ambulances. The department does however provide BLS
first responder services on priority medical calls such as cardiac and respiratory problems.
Combination fire department
A combination fire department is a type of fire department which consists of both career and volunteer firefighters. In the United States, combination fire departments are typically tax-supported in some fashion, and generally have an annual call volume larger than purely volunteer departments...
located in Spring, Texas
Spring, Texas
Spring, Texas is a census-designated place within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Houston in Harris County, Texas, United States, north of Downtown Houston. The population was 54,298 at the 2010 census...
, in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
. It is the third largest volunteer fire department in Harris County following Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department
Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department
Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department is a combination fire department headquartered at 9630 Telge Road in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, United States....
and Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department
Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department
The Pasadena Fire Department in Pasadena, Texas, United States has a membership that includes over 200 active and 50 semi-active firefighters, as of 2010...
. Under contract with Harris County Emergency Services District #7, The SVFD is responsible for fire protection for an area approximately 115 square miles (297.8 km²) with nearly 110,000 residents. As a part of the "FM 1960 Area Fire Departments", Spring's apparatus are designated as the "7 Series", where all units start with the number 7.
History
In May 1953, a charter was formed by seven members creating the Spring Volunteer Fire Association. The SVFA built a fire station in Old Town SpringOld Town Spring
Old Town Spring is an old town with over 150 shops, restaurants, and art galleries in Spring, a community in unincorporated Harris County, Texas.Old Town Spring is north of the city of Houston and outside Beltway 8...
located near the Bayer Lumber Yard. The first apparatus were donated from surrounding departments. The fire department received income from private donations and pledges that lasted twenty years.
In 1984, a taxing authority known as the Harris County Rural Fire Prevention District #1 was formed, allowing a tax board and budget to maintain the department rather than relying on simply donations. In 1997, Harris County Emergency Services District #7 replaced HCRFPD #1, and further expanded the budget of the department.
On March 2, 1985, District Chief
Fire chief
Fire Chief is a top executive rank or commanding officer in a fire department, either elected or appointed...
Michael West was killed fighting a 3 alarm fire
Multiple-alarm fire
One-alarm, two-alarm, three-alarm fires, or higher, are categories of fires indicating the level of response by local authorities, with an elevated number of alarms indicating increased commitment of resources. The term multiple-alarm is a quick way of indicating that a fire was severe and...
off of Spring Cypress Road. He is the only firefighter of Spring to date to have been killed in the line of duty.
In June 2011, a new administration building and station was completed at the intersection of Lexington and Louetta Road. The administration which was housed at Station 75, was moved to the new administration building. The new station has taken over as station 71, with the old station 71 located in Old Town Spring changed to station 78 temporarily.
Leadership
The Fire Chief position for Spring Fire Department is a four (4) year term. The members of the Spring V.F.D. vote on this position when the term is about to expire. The current Fire Chief which is Eric Anderson was voted on by the membership in November of 2010. Fire Chief Eric Anderson took office on January 1st of 2011.The following positions are the current Leadership:
Fire Chief - Eric Anderson
Assistant Fire Chief - Scott Seifert
Deputy Chief (Suppression) - Jerod Davenport
Deputy Chief (Support) - Scott Schoonover
Training Chief - Robert Logan
District Chief 70 (Duty Crew) - Shannon Stryk
District Chief 71 (Central) - Joshua Posey
District Chief 72 (West) - Joel Crenshaw
District Chief 73 (East) - Donny Guedry
Stations and Apparatus
District 71 (Central)- Station 75 "2920" - Engine, Ladder, RescueHeavy rescue vehicleA heavy rescue vehicle is a type of specialty firefighting or EMS apparatus. They are primarily designed to provide the specialized equipment necessary for technical rescue situations such as auto accidents requiring vehicle extrication, building collapses, confined space rescue, rope rescues and...
- Station 77 "Enchanted Oaks" - Ladder
- Station 78 "Old Town SpringOld Town SpringOld Town Spring is an old town with over 150 shops, restaurants, and art galleries in Spring, a community in unincorporated Harris County, Texas.Old Town Spring is north of the city of Houston and outside Beltway 8...
" - Engine, Booster
District 72 (West)
- Station 72 "Northhampton" - Ladder, TankerWater tenderA water tender, also known as a tanker in some regions, is a specialized firefighting apparatus designed for transporting water from a water source to a fire scene...
, Reserve Ladder
- Station 76 "Londonderry" - Engine, Booster
District 73 (East)
- Station 71 "Spring Lakes" - Ladder, RescueHeavy rescue vehicleA heavy rescue vehicle is a type of specialty firefighting or EMS apparatus. They are primarily designed to provide the specialized equipment necessary for technical rescue situations such as auto accidents requiring vehicle extrication, building collapses, confined space rescue, rope rescues and...
, Squad, Reserve Ladder
- Station 73 "Birnamwood" - Engine, Ladder, Booster
- Station 74 "Maple Terrace" - Ladder, TankerWater tenderA water tender, also known as a tanker in some regions, is a specialized firefighting apparatus designed for transporting water from a water source to a fire scene...
All ladders are 2001 E-One
E-One
E-One or Emergency One Incorporated is an emergency services manufacturer and marketer based in Ocala, Florida.- History :Founded in 1974, E-One has a staff of roughly 900 in four plants in the United States. In 1993 E-One purchased Superior Emergency Equipment and in 2004 bought Saulsbury Fire...
HP-75 Sidestacker "Quints" with 75' aerial ladders.
3 Engines are 2009 Crimson Gladiator Pumpers, with the remaining one a 2007 Crimson Gladiator.
Both Rescues are 2001 E-One Cyclone II Rescue Pumpers, equipped with two sets of Holmatro hydraulic rescue tools
Hydraulic Rescue Tools
Hydraulic rescue tools are used by emergency rescue personnel to assist vehicle extrication of crash victims, as well as other rescues from small spaces. These tools include cutters, spreaders, door busters and rams...
.
Both Tankers are 2001 E-One Cyclone II Tankers, with a water tank capacity of 3500 Gallons. Both Boosters are E-One Boosters on Ford F-550 chassis.
The fire suppression district in which Spring Volunteer Fire Department serves, has Emergency Medical Services
Emergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
that are provided by Cypress Creek EMS
Cypress Creek EMS
Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services is an emergency medical service provider in Northwest Harris County in Houston, Texas. CCEMS is one of the most reliable EMS services in Houston. All ambulances in use by CCEMS are MICU or Mobile Intensive Care Units, with at least one Paramedic, making...
, as the Spring Fire Department has no ambulances. The department does however provide BLS
Basic life support
Basic life support is the level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until the patient can be given full medical care at a hospital. It can be provided by trained medical personnel, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and by...
first responder services on priority medical calls such as cardiac and respiratory problems.