In September the department will begin issuing individual SCBA masks to personnel to ensure all personnel have appropriately sized masks for the highest level of respiratory protection. As part of this process all personnel will need to complete fit testing. Personnel have 3 dates to complete fit testing and be assigned an individual SCBA mask:

Tuesday, September 14th:         Station #2; 14:00 to 22:00hrs.

Wednesday, September 15th:    Station #2; 13:00 to 19:00hrs.

Thursday, September 16th:        Station #2; 13:00 to 19:00hrs.

Following completion of fit testing apparatus SCBA masks will be removed and personnel shall use their individually assigned SCBA mask exclusively.

Congrats to Station #3 Lieutenant/EMT Jim Hagraves on his hiring by the City of West University Place Police Department. Protecting an affluent and largely residential area, the department is located inside of Loop 610 and adjacent to the cities of Bellaire and South Side Place and bordering the City of Houston on all sides.

Congrats to Jim on his new career and best of luck. Be safe out there. 

Shortly before 07:00hrs today units were dispatched to the reported house on fire in the 200 block of Brockett Pl. in the Sugar Creek Subdivision. With Car #3 (Gracia) arriving moments later, a size-up of heavy fire thru the roof of a 1-story SFD was given and initial assignments given. Upon arrival of Quint 22 (OIC Nemec) fire attack began thru Side "A" as Sugar Land Ladder 2 (OIC Immel) arrived to stretch the 2nd line and Missouri City Quint 31 (OIC Horsack) established the R.I.T. With fire conditions now thru a large section of the roof, and limited headway being made, command ordered the evacuation tones sounded as Ladder 2 and Quint 22 prepared for ladder pipe operations from Side "A". Upon confirmation of all personnel out of the structure by Sugar Land Battalion 1 (Wooley) as Safety, ladder pipe operations began as additional companies began arriving on scene. As ladder pipe operations were underway information began being received at the command post of marijuana plants being thrown into neighboring yards and the possibility of the residence being a marijuana grow house. Given that after 20+ minutes of master stream operations little headway was being made with heavy fire still evident throughout the residence, and as companies checked exposures for extension, the East Fort Bend County Haz Mat Team was requested to respond for possible chemicals within the residence. After an additional 30 minutes of ladder pipe operations the bulk of the fire was eventually knocked down and crews moved back in to knockdown numerous hot spots after being cleared by hazardous materials personnel. With the heat of the day and the extent of overhaul, as well as additional support functions necessary, additional companies were requested to the scene for relief purposes. Following completion of both the fire investigation and narcotics investigation all units returned to service at approximately 12:45hrs. Additional units and agencies which operated on the fire ground included Engine 21 (OIC Mc Gilbery), Engine 24 (OIC Taylor), Rescue 23 (OIC Hargraves), Engine 1 (OIC Mensik), Battalion 31 (Wheeler), HFD District 59 (Johnson), HFD Engine 76 (OIC Archibald), HFD Engine 37 (OIC Ayers), Fort Bend County EMS Medic 10, Stafford Police Department, Tri-City Special Crimes Unit and the DEA.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Stafford Fire Marshal's Office.  

Photos by FF S. Mc Gilbery and R. McEathron

Shortly before 08:00hrs this morning the day began in ernest with units dispatched to the reported female shot in the Promenade Subdivision of District 1. With additional information enroute advising of a 2nd subject also down, units staged with FBCEMS Medic #10 until the arrival of Stafford Police Department units. Upon arrival of SPD patrol units and the quick securing of the scene, units were cleared into the scene where 2 subjects with GSW injuires presented. With #7 (Mills) establishing command, units began rapid trauma assessments and care on both subjects with one packaged for immediate ground transport and the other for transport via Air Medical. With a SFD Fire Fighter/Paramedic riding in with Medic #10  emergency traffic to the Level I Trauma Center at Memorial Herman Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, the second patient was packaged with Medic #7 and prepared for transport as Memorial Herman Life Flight #3 arrived on scene. With greater than normal patient care efforts necessary a change in transport method was decided resulting in the flight crew of LF#3 and a SFD Fire Fighter/Paramedic riding in with Medic #7 to Memorial Herman Southwest Hospital. Upon retreval of both personnel and equipment from the hosptials and scene all units returned to service approximately 2 hours later. During the course of the remainder of the day units maintained a steady pace responding to numerous additional incidents including a SUV into the building shortly after clearing the shooting scene.       

At approximately 23:31hrs units were dispatched on the MCFRS box for the residential structure fire on S. Sandy Ct. Upon arrival of Quint 33 (OIC Gooch) fire was evident from the "C/D" corner of a 1-story SFD. Upon arrival of Battalion 31 (Braswell) S. Sandy Ct. Command was established with Quint 33 assigned as Fire Attack Group, Engine 32 (OIC Krenek) as Back-Up Group, SLFD Engine 3 (OIC Leopold) as Extension Group and Engine 34 (OIC Oaks) as the R.I.T. Group  and Engine 21 (OIC P. Ramirez Jr.) assigned to cover exposure "D" as heavy fire was now thru the roof on Side "C" of the structure. With crews getting a good knock down on the bulk of the fire and the exposure threat diminished, Engine 21 was re-assigned to assist with opening up on the interior. Upon completion of assignments Engine 21 returned to service at 00:56hrs. During the incident SLFD Battalion 1 (Le Grotte) assisted at the command post and Car #1 (Di Camillo) was assigned as the Safety Officer.  

At 15:06hrs on this clear, sunny and 100 degree Sunday afternoon the box was dispatched for the reported roof on fire at the "59 Diner" restaurant in the 12500 block of US59. Upon arrival of Engine 23 (OIC Hagraves) smoke was evident from the top of a 70' tall tower attached to the 1-story structure. With the business still in operation Engine 23 transferred command to Car #1 (Di Camillo) and was assigned as Evacuation Group as SLFD Ladder 2 laddered the structure on Side "A", MCFRS Engine 32 (OIC Krenek) laid a 5" supply line to Engine 23 and Engine 21 (OIC P. Ramirez Sr.) made the roof over an attached ladder and assumed Roof Division. With crews both inside and on the roof, and with lines deployed to both areas, crews still only had limited vantage points to the main body of the now fully vented fire located 30' above them. With Tower 22 (OIC G. Yell) set-up on Side "B" in the Taco Bell parking lot, and having secured their own water supply, roof division crews cleared the area and Tower 22 began ladder pipe operations knocking down the bulk of the fire within 7-8 minutes. With Engine 32 re-confirming no extension to the interior of the main restaurant as Engine 23 and Ladder 2 opened-up the base of the tower, crews rotated through hitting hot spots inside the steel frame and plywood lined tower. Following completion of the investigation by Car #3 (Gracia) crews performed final overhaul operations before returning to service shortly before 18:00hrs. During the incident Car #2 (Burns) was assigned as Division "A", Battalion 31 (Braswell) functioned as the Incident Safety Officer, Battalion 1 (Le Grotte) functioned as the Accountability Officer and FBCEMS Medic #7 established the aid/rehab station.

During the course of the incident no injuries to fire service personnel or civilians were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Stafford Fire Marshal's Office.   

On Saturday, July 31st a founding member and long-time supporter of the department passed away. A life-long resident of Stafford, Julius Charles "J.C." Court served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 and, after his military service was completed, was a founding member of the Stafford Fire Department where he served from 1957 to 1971. Continuing to enhance his service to the community, Mr. Court was elected to city council in 1971 where he served for 10 terms and was an instrumental force in the creation of the Stafford Municipal School District. Always a fixture at Court's Hardware in downtown Stafford which he and his brother Charles purchased from their father in 1960, Mr. Court was always ready with a smile and friendly greeting. Together with his wife Jettie Anne, they raised four children in the community with his son Julius "Jody" Court following in his fathers foot steps where he is currently the Stafford Fire Department Station #1 Captain as well as a Captain in the Education Division of the Houston Fire Department. Retiring in 2000 Mr. Court capitalized on spending time with his family while still staying active in the community.

It is fitting and important to remember that the current department, with modern apparatus and equipment, wouldn't be where we are today had it not been for the forethought of people like Mr. J.C. Court and others.

Please keep the Court family in your thoughts and prayers. 

As Company 3 "A" began their Saturday day shift, so did the calls for service. During the course of the day, and into Company 1 "C" that evening, units responded to no less than 20 calls for service ranging from still alarms to 1st in box alarms. The most unusual of these incidents involved the "gasoline tank which had slipped off the trailer" in the 10500 block of W. Airport just before lunch time. Upon arrival of Engine 23 (OIC G. Yell) the "gasoline tank" turned out to really be a 9000 gallon gasoline tanker which had somehow slipped off the towing tractor. To make matters more interesting the investigation revealed that the trailer had came to rest approximately 15' from a storm drain and approximately 200' from an occupied church. Following a close inspection of the tank and associated discharge piping no leaks were found and the heavy duty wrecker given the green light to lift the tanker. In short order the tanker was sling loaded, carefully lifted and the connection made to another tractor. Following an additional inspection to ensure no leaks all units returned to service.     

As personnel seemingly responded from one incident to another on this busy Sunday, units were dispatched at 16:47hrs to their next incident at 12343 Murphy Rd. for the reported fall victim. Upon arrival of Battalion 21 (Bomberger) and Engine 23 (OIC Scoggins) patient assessment was performed and a request for Air Medical made given the injuries. Despite a strong series of storms coming through the area at the time the pilot and flight crew of Memorial Herman Life Flight 3 persevered and made location where care was transferred and the patient enroute to the Level I Trauma Center at Memorial Herman Hospital in the Texas Medical Center within 7 minutes. Immediately after departure of the aircraft, and as the weather continued to worsen, units returned to service where they responded to 4 additional runs in the next 20 minutes for a total of 16 before 19:00hrs.

Congrats go out to Station #1 FF Aaron Lange on being the newest fire fighter hired by the Victoria Fire Department. Located about 110 miles south of Stafford down US59, the Victoria FD operates from 5 stations running 5 Engine Co.'s and 1 Truck Co.

Congrats again to FF Lange on his achievement.

Early this morning department personnel joined others in Wharton, Texas to pay their respects to Wharton FD Captain Thomas Araguz III. Just one week prior Captain Araguz was tragically killed operating at the multi-alarm fire at Maxim Egg Co. in Boling, Texas.

During the service various speakers recalled their relationships and experiences with Captain Araguz thoughout his life including family, friends and co-workers. Following the services the apparatus procession wound throughout Wharton enroute to the grave site.

May everyone keep Captain Thomas Araguz III, his family, friends and co-workers in your thoughts and prayers.

 Photos courtesy of FF L. Harlow

The officers and members of the Stafford Fire Department would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family of Wharton Fire Department Captain Thomas Araguz III who was tragically lost this morning while operating at a commercial structure fire.

Captain Araguz was lost this morning while operating at the Maxim Egg Co. fire in Boling, Texas. While performing fire fighting operations he and his crew became trapped on the inside of the structure. Personnel on scene were able to successfully breach a wall and remove 2 of the fire fighters but, with extremely high heat and zero visibility, were unable to reach Captain Araguz.

An 11 year member of the department since age 19, Captain Araguz had recently been promoted to Captain. Captain Araguz leaves behind a wife and two children.

Please keep the Araguz family and the Wharton Fire Department in your thoughts and prayers.

Photo courtesy Wharton Fire Department

At approximately 00:45hrs units were dispatched  to the 330 block of FM442 in Boling, Texas to assist the Wharton Fire Department with a commercial structure fire at Maxim Egg Co. with a report of fire fighters trapped. Responding along with Missouri City Fire & Rescue Department Engine 31 (OIC Scott) and Battalion 31 (Braswell), Quint 22 (OIC M. RIcks) and Car #1 (Di Camillo) arrived at the location approximately an hour after dispatch.

Upon arrival confirmation was given of 1 fire fighter still unaccounted for inside of the vast commercial structure with instructions given to Quint 22 to perform a recon of the western portion of the complex to determine the extent of fire spread. With limited visibility on the fire ground due to dense, low lying smoke crews determined a position for attack to attempt to limit fire spread into the uninvolved portions. Given the lack of hydrants in the area, all fire fighting efforts were done using tanker shuttles to supply 2 ladder towers and 2 handlines through loading dock bay doors. With operations on the fire ground entering their 10th hour over 150 fire fighters from over 30 fire departments in 5 counties operated on the fire ground.

Sadly during the course of this fire Wharton Fire Department Captain Thomas Araguz III and his crew became trapped inside the structure, While other personnel were able to breach a wall and locate and extricate his crew, sadly personnel were unable to reach Captain Araguz due to extreme heat and zero visibility. 

The officers and members of the Stafford Fire Department extend our condolences to the family of Captain Araguz as well as the officers and members of the Wharton Fire Department for their tragic loss.

Please keep Captain Araguz, his family and the Wharton Fire Department in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

As everyone is hopefully enjoying time with their families and friends on the birthday of our great country, the officers and personnel of the department would like to say thank you and offer a reminder...

A thank you to the men and women of our armed forces; those that have served and those that are serving around the world protecting our country. May these brave men and women be able to safely return home to their families and friends at the end of their tour of duty.

And remember when you gather to watch the fantastic firework displays tonight that they are only possible through their service and sacrifice.

So when you see a member of our military take the opportunity to say 2 little words... thank you.

Shortly after 04:00hrs this morning units began what would be a busy day responding to the reported car versus tree in the 12000 block of the Southwest Freeway. Upon arrival of Engine 23 (OIC Hagraves) and Battalion 21 (Bomberger) units found a Mercedes convertible which had struck a tree along the feeder road coming to rest in the front of a local car dealership. With the single female patient  found between parked cars in the lot FBCEMS Medic #10 requested Air Medical due to multi-system trauma. With the patient transferred and loaded onboard Memorial Herman Life Flight additional calls for service were received sending units to other locations including to a District 1 apartment complex for the reported newborn infant left on the doorstep. Upon arrival personnel found an approximately 2 hour old baby girl presenting outside a downstairs apartment. Upon arrival of FBCEMS Medic #7 the infant was rapidly transported to Memorial Herman Southwest Hosptial with SFD personnel onboard assisting with care during transport. While the early spike in call volume ended within the hour, the remainder of the day remained steady with units responding to an additional 8 incidents.