The nationwide shortage of firefighters is impacting the Houston Fire Department

HOUSTON – A nationwide shortage of firefighters is impacting the Houston Fire Department. KPRC 2’s Zach Lashway explains what’s being done to get more people to join HFD.

“We are starting with very, very aggressive recruiting. And we go out, you know, talk to individuals, visit colleges, do collaborations and partnerships with high schools,” said Houston Fire Department Fire Chief Thomas Munoz.

While most run from emergencies, the men and women of the Houston Fire Department run into situations where every second counts.

HFD performs an average of 1,200 runs per day. 85% of these calls involve emergency services and 15% of these calls involve fires.

“I just felt like I should do something much bigger,” explained Morgan Holman, a cadet with HFD.

This is a second career for Holman. The 31-year-old will graduate from the academy in April 2025.

“Final destination. Houston firefighter. Be it. I want to be here again. I would like to become a trainer here. There are no women here, and that’s what I want to be,” Holman explained excitedly.

The proportion of women is 2% of the members. The national average of women in fire departments is 3.5%. HFD administration says there are female firefighters in all ranks and departments, starting with deputy chief.

Hunter Reed is another cadet. The 21-year-old is an old member of the HFD.

“I will be a third generation resident of Houston. My father currently works on a ward where I have worked for almost 20 years. My grandfather invented the reed hood. Very popular in Houston,” Reed explained.

Recruiting new firefighters like Reed and Holman is critical for the new administration.

“When I took this position there was a crisis, a shortage. You know, we’re about 600 firefighters short,” Munoz explained.

“We have launched an initiative with new hires of employees who have left the department for any reason in the last five years. They know that we open the door for them. I have a course that starts in October and the retirees come back and love it,” said Mike Brown, Assistant Chief Professional Development.

Brown added the department’s biggest problem is staffing, including a shortage of paramedics.

“This is our biggest challenge at the moment. We are currently an older department. We probably have over a thousand members who are ready to retire in 20-plus years,” Brown said. “Right now there are 3,800 (men and women forming HFD). Approximately. It would be nice to have 4,300 to 4,500. We just can’t get enough people, the right people, fast enough.”

According to Brown, HFD is the third largest fire department in the United States: “We are constantly trying to update and improve the facilities. We just commissioned, I think, five of six brand new units. Two fire stations are currently being renovated.”

The only ones larger than HFD are FDNY and the City of Los Angeles.

Here is the link to begin the process of becoming a firefighter or paramedic with HFD.

A $5,000 sign-on bonus is currently offered to cadets.

Brown said there are many opportunities for advancement. There are up to six academy courses per year.