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Fire Station #19 is located in the heart of Houston's Historic 5th Ward. We are just Northeast of Downtown Houston where US59 and I10 cross. Station 19 serves as the 'district house' for stations 9, 12, 19 and 27. Station 19 is also considered the training site for the NEQ, or North East Quadrant of the City.
The Firemen
Station 19 is home to 61 firemen, divided up into 4 shifts; A,B,C,and D shifts. There are currently 4 District Chiefs, 4 Senior Captains, 4 Junior Captains, 18 Engineer/Operators (E/O), and 31 Firefighters. Each shift has one District Chief, designated D19. The District Chief is responsible for all activities that occur in a given day within district 19. This may include daily staffing levels, personnel issues, accident investigations and emergency response to major incidents including structure fires, gas leaks, hazmat incidents, rescues, etc. Each shift is lead by a Senior Captain who is responsible for the station and typically rides on the Ladder (or truck), designated L19. The Junior Captain rides the Engine (pumper), E19. Each piece of equipment is driven and operated by an E/O. Ambulance 19 (A19) is assigned an EMT driver and an EMT firefighter, Squad 19 (SQ19) is typically assigned a paramedic driver and a paramedic firefighter, the engine is assigned an E/O, a Junior Captain and two firefighters, while the ladder truck has a Senior Captain, E/O and two firefighters. The firefighters (or pipemen) are given their riding assignments first thing in the morning. After all positions are filled, extra personnel may 'fill in' at other surrounding stations that have open positions.
Houston firemen work 24 hour shifts. Shift change is at 0630 in the morning and continues until 0630 the next morning. We typically work a shift, are off a day, work a shift, then have 5 days off. Every 34 days we work an extra day called a 'debit day'.
The Station
The current station was built in 1979. It
features 4 apparatus bays, a day room, kitchen, crew dormitory, captain's
quarters, chief's quarters, computer/radio room, watch office, weight room, and
classroom. Outside we have a 7 story training tower, 2000 gallon
underground drafting pit, fuel pumps, volleyball court, basketball goal and a heli-pad used occasionally by HPD.
District Chief 19
The District Chief runs out of a 2003 Ford Expedition equipped with several portable radios, a Grace electronic accountability command base, a rapid intervention (RIT) kit, a 30-minute RIT airpack, a 60-minute highrise airpack, megaphone, command flags, prefire plans, and numerous reference books.
Engine 19
E19 is a 2005 Ferrara pumper.
It is rated to pump 1500 gallons per minute and carries 500 gallons of water on
board. Onboard water is used to make a 'fast attack' on a fire before the
hydrant is connected to the pumper. This tank is also useful for small
trash or car fires. E19's primary
function is fire suppression and it carries all the hose, nozzles and connections
to serve that purpose. In addition, the pumper carries EMS equipment (both
basic and advanced life support), fire extinguishers, ground ladders, regular
and high-rise air packs, hand tools, extra air bottles, a fan, life jackets,
rescue rope, a thermal imaging camera, rehab supplies and a hydraulic generator
for electricity and lighting.
View E19's compartments.
Ladder 19
L19 is a 1995 Smeal truck with a 75' aerial ladder. It is one of a handful of ladder trucks in HFD that can be considered a 'quint'. A quint usually means the ladder truck has a pump and hose on board that can be used to extinguish small fires if the need arises. The majority of the time though, ladder trucks are used to rescue victims in upper stories of a building, provide firefighters a means of entering a tall building, or can discharge huge amounts of water from the tip of the ladder on 'defensive' fires. The truck crew is typically responsible for performing rapid primary searches of burning structures, ventilation, access, salvage and overhaul. L19 carries a wide variety of equipment to accomplish these goals. The truck has a diesel generator used to provide power and lighting at night and carries a number of portable lights and cord reels. In addition to the aerial ladder, the truck carried numerous ground ladders from the 10' attic ladder to the 35' extension ladder, as well as roof ladders, hand tools, pike poles, ropes, chains, ventilation fans, chain saws, metal and masonry circular saws, high-rise airpacks, extra air bottles, power tools, EMS equipment, and a thermal imaging camera which allows the Captain to see through smoke, even if visibility is zero. L19 is now also an extrication truck and carries a full set of hydraulic rescue tools. View the new tools here.
Squad 19
Squad 19 is a 2005 Chevy Crewcab and is affectionately referred to as 'the dog catcher' because of the design of the rear cargo box. It is the primary ALS unit that runs out of Station 19. It is staffed by at least one Paramedic and one EMT, but on several shifts the driver is a Paramedic as well. The vehicle is equipped with a variety of ALS (advanced life support) equipment including a cardiac monitor/EKG machine, drugs, IV supplies, advanced airway equipment, and recently started carrying special PATCAR medications currently under study by HFD. These powerful medications are relatively new to EMS and are given to heart attack victims 'in the field' to dissolve the clots that cause heart attacks in certain patients. The squad is dispatched on calls which have a possibility of requiring Paramedic intervention such as chest pains, unconscious persons, major trauma, CPR's, strokes, etc. If the medics on scene determine the patient requires ALS intervention, the Paramedic will accompany the ambulance to the hospital. If no ALS is required, the squad will be disregarded and returned to service, ready for the next run. SQ 19 is one of three squads that cover district 19.
Station 19 is one of the lucky few HFD stations that currently participates in the 'rotation' program where Paramedics are allowed to rotate off the squad and onto the fire apparatus. Several of the other busier squads in the city participate as well. Paramedics typically ride 6 days on the squad, then 3 days on the fire apparatus. This allows paramedics to develop and maintain their firefighting skills and also gives them a break from the daily grind of squad life. When Paramedics are rotated to the engine, they may perform certain ALS procedures before the squad arrives. HFD administration has vowed to increase the number of Paramedics, thus expanding both the squad and the rotation programs. View more pics of SQ19.
Ambulance 19
Ambulance 19 is a 2004 ford power stroke diesel. It is staffed with two EMT 's. It is the primary transport unit for station 19. A19 responds to numerous calls every day requiring basic and/or advanced life support. It is one of the busiest ambulances in the city. Calls can range from a sore toe to a cardiac arrest. The ambulance carries a variety of BLS (basic life support) equipment from bandaging and splinting, to oxygen, to spinal immobilization equipment. The EMT 's will often stock the ambulance with extra ALS supplies for the Paramedics to use when they ride in to the hospital. All HFD ambulances have an onboard generator to power the air conditioner/heater, scene lights and some emergency lights. EMT 's on the ambulance are all firefighters which take their turn riding it when their number comes up. There are EMT drivers assigned to the ambulance who can also fill in and drive the fire apparatus when needed. A19 Made the First EMS Run in HFD History!
A Shift
B Shift
C Shift
D Shift
