Spring FD Celebrates 65 Years Of Public Service

From: Tracee Evans, Public Information Officer, Spring Fire Department

SPRING, TX — On April 29, 1953, Americans were listening to Almost Always by Joni James on the radio as Dwight D. Eisenhower settled into the White House. The city of Houston’s population was just over a half a million and beginning to grow rapidly.

The prosperous 1950’s, however, started in a less than idyllic way for the community of Spring, Texas.

“We had this church fire and the mill burnt,” explains former Spring Volunteer Fire Department Chief W.W. “Cotton” Weaver, “so a few concerned citizens got together and formed the fire department.”

A small rural fire department that started without any equipment, fire trucks or paid firefighters has since grown into one of the largest combination fire departments in Texas.

“Today we have nine fire stations, an administration building and a training field on the drawing board,” adds Spring Fire Chief Scott Seifert.

That’s a far cry from a department that made a fire truck by welding a 700 gallon tank to 1936 chassis and adding a pump.

“Cotton” Weaver remembers passing the boot along the brand new, four lane Interstate 45 and selling raffle tickets for Houston Fat Stock Show Steer to put fuel in the fire trucks.

For 44 years the department existed solely on the backs of volunteers, but in 1997 a few part time firefighters were hired so fire stations could be manned during daylight hours.

Those firefighters were called the “duty crew”. The first full time Spring Firefighters were hired in 2013.

The fire department grew along with the community. From a volunteer organization of several local citizens serving 700 residents, today there are over 200 men and women serving in the Spring Fire Department, including 67 full time paid firefighters who serve alongside part time firefighters and volunteers.

“Today’s Spring Fire Department is responsible for 155,000 residents, dozens of midrise office buildings, apartments and hotels, including the ExxonMobil campus,” added Seifert. “An estimated 155,000 people over roughly 62 square miles of northern Harris County count on the Spring Fire Department when they call 911.”

It’s only been since the early 1980’s that tax dollars have helped support fire prevention in Spring. The Spring area was the first served by a Harris County Rural Fire Prevention District. HCRFPD #1 helped the volunteer fire department build fire stations, buy equipment and train volunteers.

In the 1990’s, Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) began forming to provide stable funding for emergency services in the unincorporated areas of Texas counties and Harris County ESD #7 replaced the outdated HCRFPD #1.

Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, today the Spring Fire Department’s nine fire stations house a fleet of 25 pieces of fire and rescue apparatus along with 15 support vehicles.

And the department has only lost one firefighter in the line of duty. On Texas Independence Day in 1985, District Chief Michael F. West died battling a 2-Alarm fire near Old Town Spring. He is immortalized in bronze in front of the Spring Fire Department Administration building on Louetta.

Sunday, April 29, the Spring community will come together to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the fire department.

On Sunday, the department is hosting a family fun day at Fire Station 71, located at 646 E. Louetta from 1-4 to thank the community for their support.

Spring firefighters have developed a kids firefighter obstacle course and a special miniature house for hose training.

There will be a fire department themed inflatable tower slide and moonwalk.

Kids can color a special picture for the firefighters and join them in enjoying cake and Blue Bell Ice Cream. The Fire Wives of Spring and Spring Fire Department volunteers will be on hand to make it a special family occasion.

“Join us,” added Seifert. “Let us thank you for your unwavering support over the last 65 years.”

More information at www.springfd.org.

Image: (Top) Bryan Kirk/Patch