HFD critically staffed for first time since 2001

Firstly, I’d like to state critical staffing is the equivalent to minimal staffing. Each fire apparatus in the city of Houston will now only have 3 members on-board as opposed to its normal operating guidelines of at least 4 people.

Now, I will get into why HFD has had 4 people on each fire apparatus since 2001. On October 13, 2001, a fire had occurred in the West building of the Four Leaf Condominiums, located at 5110 San Felipe in Houston Texas. Engine company 2, staffed by 3 members of the HFD, a Chauffeur, an Officer, and a Pipeman was dispatched to the call. The 3 man crew, joined by two members of Ladder 28, and ascended to the 5th floor as the initial attack team. The Chauffeur of Engine 2 returned down to get a Thermal Imaging Camera from L28, brought it to the team, and returned back down to his engine to assist in water supply, leaving 4 members left. The team entered Unit 52 on the 5th story, and were met with moderate heat and heavy smoke. The team then began a fire attack of the foyer and search of Unit 52.

Upon completion of the search, both Pipemen from E2 and L28 reported they were low on air and exited the building, leaving Captain. Jahnke and Green, the two exited Unit 52 and began to make their way to an exit staircase as Jahnke would be low on air soon. As the two made their way down the hallway to the stairs, the visibility conditions had dropped to zero, meaning they could not see. Low on air, and in zero visibility, relying on hose line to find their way out. Jahnke, now very low on air and becoming disoriented had believed the two were going in the wrong direction, but Green insisted they pushed on. When they reached the hose cabinet connection, Jahnke had become separated. Shortly after, as Green had exited the IDLH, Jahnke called for help on his radio.

About 15 minutes later, Jahnke was found by a rescue team between Unit 52 and the exit stairs, with no air, and unconscious. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. In short, if there had been a 4th member, Jahnke would of survived as there would be another person along with Captain Green to help get Jahnke out. Which is why HFD has always had 4 people on each apparatus since then.

Now on to my point, with Mayor Turner’s underfunding of the HFD, and closing down stations, HFD apparatus is becoming more and more understaffed. We saw the beginning of this just a couple months ago, with special operation units being understaffed by 1-2 people, and apparatus being staffed by over time personnel, or put out of service completely, meaning that apparatus would not be responding to calls. This is due to layoffs and underpaying, which causes members to go to other departments and leave the HFD. Myself in other posts about prop-b and Mayor Turner’s abuse of the HFD in order to make profit and the HFD Union, have both stated it would come to a point where no one would be able to respond to calls. There would be no HFD, fires would not be put out, and no one listened, or they just denied it. But this is the start of it, the nightmare of a tragedy that occurred at the Four Leaf Condominium fire may re-occur, because of the conditions that Mayor Turner has instilled upon the HFD.