Our History
The Spring Fire Department, founded in 1953, is located in Spring, Texas, approximately 25 miles north of Downtown Houston in the northern portion of unincorporated Harris County. It is one of the largest combination fire departments in Harris County and the State of Texas.
April 29, 1953
On April 29,1953, Spring Volunteer Fire Association, Inc. received its Charter. The fire department was formed and had a Fire Chief and 24 members.
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1963: 10-year anniversary
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1971
Station 71 was relocated to Old Town Spring.
Station 72 was built at the entrance of the Northampton subdivision.
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1972
New station built near the Birnamwood subdivision, eventually became Station 73 after the original Station 73 was provided to the newly formed Ponderosa Volunteer Fire Department.
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1978: 25-year anniversary
Built Station 74 on Old Aldine Westfield Road.
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1983
Rural Fire Prevention District #1 was formed and was the first of its kind in Harris County
which allowed for the collection of Ad Valorem tax (property tax)
at a rate of 3 cents per $100 valuation.
This meant a $100,000 homeowner would pay $30 per year for Fire Protection.
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1985
Michael F. West gave his life while fighting a 2 alarm commercial fire just outside of Old Town Spring.
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1986
911 became the phone number to dial for emergencies in Harris County.
Mike Wisby was elected Fire Chief.
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1990
Operating budget was $440k.
Opened Station 75 on FM 2920 at Falvel Road.
Alan Lankford was elected Fire Chief.
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1992
The first full-time employee was hired to fill the role of Administrative Coordinator.
There have only been three Administrative Coordinators since the position was created.
The position has since been renamed Administrative Support Specialist
and is located at Spring Fire Department Administration.
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1997
Harris County Emergency Services District #7 was formed.
The first part-time firefighters were hired which changed us from a volunteer department to a combination fire department.
The fire department began providing EMS First Responders to assist Cypress Creek EMS.
Station 73 was relocated and opened.
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2001
John Duarte was elected Fire Chief.
Relocated and opened Station 72 on Northcrest Drive.
Leased 14 brand new fire trucks; 7 Quints (fire engines with aerial ladders) 2 Rescue trucks, 2 Tanker trucks, and 3 Grass fire trucks for $8 million.
Began Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) for volunteer retirement.
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2002
Stephen Sharp was appointed and then elected Fire Chief.
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2003: 50-year anniversary
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2004
Glenn Hastings was promoted to Fire Chief.
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2005
All Officer positions were appointed by Fire Chief or his designees.
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2007
Alan Lankford was appointed Fire Chief.
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2008
Station 76 was opened at the entrance to the Londonderry subdivision.
The Woodlands Township annexed a ~9 square mile area of our northwestern territory resulting in our area served to be reduced to ~62 square miles.
Received one new Fire Engine.
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2009
Received three new fire engines.
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2010
ExxonMobil chose to move their campus into the Springwoods Village development.
Operating budget was $1.7 million.
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2011
Volunteers began staffing certain fire stations to ensure better response times.
Opened new Administration building and Station 71.
Eric Anderson was appointed Fire Chief.
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2012
Operating budget was $2.1 million.
Opened new Station 77 on Cypresswood Drive.
Three part-time Deputy Chiefs were appointed.
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2013: 60-year anniversary
Resolution from Senator Dan Patrick.
Hired our first 8 full-time firefighters.
Station 73 was remodeled to accommodate full-time firefighters.
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2014
Hired 16 additional full-time firefighters to enhance our coverage.
Hired Human Resources Director.
ExxonMobil began moving ~10,000 employees into new complex.
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2015
Our operating budget was $7.1 million.
Hired our first Shift Commanders.
SVFA Board of Directors positions were filled by the Executive Command Staff.
Relocated new Station 8 from Old Town Spring to Booker Road.
Scott Seifert was appointed Fire Chief.
Robert Logan was appointed Assistant Fire Chief.
Shannon Stryk was appointed to Deputy Chief of Training.
Began sharing Ponderosa Fire Department Station 62 while Spring Station 75 was being rebuilt.
Received three new fire engines.
Hired full-time mechanic.
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2016
Promoted our first full-time Captains.
Opened Station 70 in Springwoods Village.
Began remodel of Station 76 to accommodate full-time firefighters.
Hired part-time Administrative Assistant.
Received two new fire engines and one new Tower truck.
Purchased two new four-wheel High Water vehicles.
Purchased one new evacuation boat and one new rescue boat.
Hired full-time Facilities manager, Payroll and Benefits Administrator, and IT Manager.
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2017
Operating budget was $11 million.
Appointed Joel Crenshaw to the Deputy Chief of Training.
Spring Fire Department Honor Guard was formed.
Replaced LOSAP program with a Volunteer Retirement Program through TESRS.
Purchased new training tower and it is located at Station 78.
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2018
Operating budget is $13.7 million.
Promoted our first full-time Apparatus Operators.
Purchased two new six-wheel High Water vehicles.
Began construction on new Station 74.
Opened new Station 75 on FM 2920.
Hired a Communications Director for the role of Public Relations, Marketing, Social Media, and Recruitment.
Received a new evacuation boat and one rescue boat.
Received one new aerial fire truck for Station 75.
Purchased a Chevrolet Suburban for Shift Commanders.
Celebrated 65 Years in Service with a Community Thank You Celebration.
Kicked off our Smoke Alarm Check Up Program.
Held our first Special Day for Special People.
Held our first Truck or Treat on Hallowe’en.
Held our first join Christmas Party with local Army Reservists.
Held our first Toys for Tots Drive and first Share Your Holidays Food Drive.
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2019
Operating Budget is $16,264,696.81
Average Response time improves to 5:38.
Fully staffed all nine stations 24/7/365 months ahead of the master plan.
Opened new Station 74 on Aldine Westfield.
Spring Firefighters rescued 150 people from high water during Tropical Storm Imelda.
Acquired new pumpers for Stations 73 and 76.
Hired a Full-Time Training Captain.
Hired a part-time SCBA technician to maintain our air tanks.
Spring Firefighters participated in 256 community events.
Held our first Spring Firefighter Challenge.
Released our first calendar in a joint effort with the Harris County Animal Shelter.
Equipped all nine fire stations with Pet Microchip Readers.
Held our first Spring Into Safety Day in Old Town Spring.
Held our first Haunted (Fire) house at Station 75.
Held our first Cookies with Santa Events at Stations 74 & 75.
Raised nearly 4,000 pounds of food and 2,800 toys for needy families during the holiday.
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2020
Operating Budget is $17,993,782.90.
Held our first Stop the Bleed Class.
Hired our first fulltime Logistics Technician.
Increased the number of fulltime firefighters to 87.
Expanded the Spring Firefighter Challenge to include fire departments from across North Harris County.
Paid off the land purchased for the W.W. Cotton Weaver Training Center.
Became an ESD department and moved full-time firefighters to TCDRS retirement program.
Began design work on a new Heavy Rescue vehicle.
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The Future
Build department training complex.
Build Station 79 (if required).
Move full-time and possibly part-time firefighters to TCDRS retirement program, staff stations with full-time, part-time and volunteers at Stations 74, 77, 78 and 79 as funds become available.
Continue to recruit new volunteer firefighters, continue to train our personnel to the highest standards, continue to reduce response times and increase customer satisfaction.
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