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Houston Fire Department Frequently Asked Questions
911 RECORDS - For 911 Records, please contact the City's 911 at (713) 884-3944.
AIRCRAFT RESCUE FIREFIGHTERS - Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting is part of the Houston Fire Department. See Special Operations.
AMBULANCES - EMS records for ambulance transports within the Houston city limits may be purchased at 500 Jefferson, Ste. 1600 . Contact 713-495-4292; Fax 713-646-5315. The fee per medical record is $6 - must have HIPAA Authorization Form ( click here ) and picture identification. For EMS Billing, call 713-963-0732 (local) or 800-929-6209, Fax 888-FAX-EMS9, E-MAIL: emsbilling@cityofhouston.net , or write to PO Box 4945 , Houston , TX 77210 .
Insurance Submittal Form (.pdf) - use this form to mail or fax in your insurance information so we can bill your insurance company for your ambulance transport. After your insurance pays, we will mail you a notice stating the amount of your co-pay, deductible or other amounts your plan requires you to pay. If your insurance does not pay, you will be responsible for the entire bill.
AMBULANCE, MEDICAL BIKE TEAM - Contact the HFD Special Events Division at 713- 495-7902
ANIMAL BITE - If animal bites anyone, call 911 and animal control at 713-238-9600 to report the incident.
BEES – BEEHIVE - The City of Houston does not handle bees unless it is an emergency situation and the are attacking someone. If an emergency in progress, call 9-1-1 and request the Fire Department. If the situation is not an emergency and the caller just wants the bees removed, he or she will need to call a licensed beekeeper.
BICYCLE REGISTRATION - All City of Houston residents may go to the fire station nearest to their residence to register their bicycle. They will need the bicycle's serial number, make and model, model year and color. The fee is $1.00 per bicycle. You may not register a bicycle If the residence area is not serviced by the City of Houston Fire and Police Departments. Call the Community Relations Division at 713-495-7900 for further information.
BIRTHDAY PARTY AT FIRE STATION - Unfortunately, we do not have the proper facilities to have birthday parties at any HFD Fire Stations. HFD does however offer citizens the option of scheduling a Birthday Tour at the local fire station of their choice. During Birthday Tours, the birthday child receives a birthday certificate signed by the Fire Chief, a Junior Fire Badge and Coloring Book. Other guests who join the birthday child also receive Junior Fire Badges and Coloring Books. To schedule a Birthday Tour contact HFD Community Relations at 713-495-7900 or fill out this form (click here) and fax to 713-646-5321. Similar to Station Tours, Birthday Tours last approximately 30 to 45 min. Times may vary depending on the number and ages of the children attending.
BURN HOSPITAL VISITS - The burn hospital will not allow members of the public to bring their children to look at patients for such purposes as an example as to what can happen to children playing with fire or matches and this can often be traumatic for children to see. Please contact the HFD Firestopper Program at 713-495-7927 to gain more information.
BURNING TRASH OR BONFIRE - To report someone burning trash or a bonfire, contact the Houston Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division that enforces the Fire Code. 24-hour number 713-884-3131.
CARBON MONOXIDE PROGRAM - Do I need a carbon monoxide detector? Only if you have a gas fired appliance in your home.
CAT UP TREE - The Fire Department does not assist in rescuing animals. Citizens may contact Animal Control. The telephone number is 713-238-9600.
CHILD PLAYING WITH FIRE OR MATCHES - If the child(ren) are not yours, you will need to call the Houston Firestoppers Program at 713-495-7927. If the child(ren) are yours, the Fire Department has a confidential program for youth that have played with matches or have set fires. This is a free program where the family receives fire education, and for those interested in further assistance counseling services are available.
COMMERCIAL FIRE PERMIT AND INSPECTION - The Commercial Business Fire Permits and Fire Marshal Approval's (inspections) office is located at 1205 Dart Street. This office takes applications for Commercial Business' that are required to comply with Federal Fire Codes and provides Fire Marshall Inspections/Approval's. The telephone number is 713-247-8557.
COMPLAINT ABOUT HFD - Call the Office of the Inspector General at 713-247-5800.
DETECTORS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED - The Houston Fire Department does not provide detectors for the hearing impaired. The detectors for hearing impaired are expensive and must be installed by a licensed electrician.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN TRAINING - There are 280 hours of EMT School, which includes classroom and clinical rotations. Cadets or Fire Trainees are taught Texas Department of Health curriculum and then must pass a certification test administered by that agency to become certified EMT's. The course content is taught by Houston Community College instructors for the Houston Fire Department.
ENVIRONMENTAL RECORDS - For environmental records of a property inside the City of Houston (i.e. Hazmat incidents, etc.) please submit an open records request (include your contact information with mailing address) by fax: 713-646-5321, or mail to : HFD Logistics Command , Open Records Request, 500 Jefferson, Ste. 1600, Houston, Texas 77002. Contact 713-495-7906.
EVACUATION TRAINING PROGRAM - Disaster training in conjunction with fire drills, how to evacuate in case of a fire emergency. Contact HFD Public Education Office at 713-865-7120.
FIRE CODE - Contact the Fire Prevention Office at 713-865-7100 . You may also visit the HFD Standards Website (click here).
FIRE DEPARTMENT PUBLIC EDUCATION - HFD Houston, TX Public Education Section, 2931 W. 12th Street, Houston, TX 77007 For more information, Call 713-865-7120, fax to 713-865-7136 or go the Fire Department web page at www.houstonfire.com for a list of Fire Department Educational Programs and more.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FUNDRAISER - Contact the HFD Union local 341 at 713-223-9166.
FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS - Houston Fire Department Headquarters is located near downtown off of Houston Avenue and Washington Avenue. The address 1205 Dart Street, Houston, Texas 77007. For more information go to the Fire Department website at www.houstonfire.com or call the HFD receptionist at 713-247-5000.
FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMORABILIA – T-SHIRTS, PATCHES - Contact or visit the Fire Museum Gift Shop at 2403 Milam to purchase Fire Department memorabilia. The phone number for the museum is 713-524-2526. The hours of operation are from 10-4 Tues - Sat.
FIRE DEPARTMENT MOBILE SAFETY TRAILER - Mobil Safety Trailer is driven to Elementary schools to teach 3rd graders what to expect and how to crawl to safety from a burning house or building. Contact the HFD Public Education Office at 713-865-7120.
FIRE DEPARTMENT PANDA PROGRAM - Parent and neighbors defense alliance to teach children to be careful around strangers. This HPD program in which the fire stations served as safe havens has been discontinued. Citizens may still go to fire stations if they need a safe haven.
FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL RECORDS - Contact HFD Personnel Records: 713-247-5078.
FIRE DEPARTMENT POSTER CONTEST - Annual fire safety poster contest for school children during October. Contact the Houston Fire Museum at 713-524-2526 or visit the Museum's website at www.houstonfiremuseum.org
FIRE DEPARTMENT SAFEKIDS PROGRAM - National Safekids Smoke Detector Installation Program. Implemented though elementary schools. Contact HFD Community Outreach Division at 713-495-7900.
FIRE DEPARTMENT'S FIRE ALARM PERMIT OFFICE - The Houston Fire Department's Permit Office is located at 1205 Dart Street , Houston , Texas 77007 and may be reached during normal business hours at 713-247-8557.
FIRE DRILL- Training provided by HFD Public Education Office. Organizing and conducting an orderly evacuation, and evaluating results with management of the facility. Call 713-865-7120.
FIRE MARSHAL - To speak to a Fire Marshal, Contact: 713-865-7100
FIRE MUSEUM - Museum hours are 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Tuesday through Saturday closed Sunday and Monday and most holidays. The Fire Museum is located at 2403 Milam. Because the museum is a small facility, the Fire Department ask that you make reservations, if you have a party of 10 or more, in order to prevent several large groups from touring at the same time. The phone number is 713-524-2526. There is a gift shop in the location that sells t-shirts, patches and other memorabilia.
FIRE MUSTER – PUBLIC EVENTS - The Annual Fire Muster "Fire Fest" is one of the biggest public events held at the Training Facility. It is generally scheduled in October. Visitors are allowed to tour the facility and view antique and modern fire apparatus. Volunteer firefighters participate in demonstrations and there are scheduled activities for children of all ages. See October Events Calendar for this year's event >>>
FIRE PREVENTION PERMITS FOR NEW BUSINESSES - All new business may apply for a safety inspection by a fire prevention inspector who will determine what fire department permits are required for their type of business. Call 713-535-7897 . Also, refer to HFD Forms and Permits >>>
FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTION - Fire department inspectors do inspections for businesses. Inspections are scheduled through the Fire Prevention Office at 713-865-7100.
FIRE PREVENTON RECORDS (FIRE CODE VIOLATONS, INSPECTION REPORTS, etc.) - To obtain a copy of an inspection record (violations, etc) from the HFD Fire Marshal Office, please submit an open records request (include your contact information with mailing address) to: Nekiea Corpening, 500 Jefferson, Ste. 1600, Houston, TX 77002, Fax: (713) 646-5316 or E-mail: nekiea.corpening@cityofhouston.net
FIRE RECORDS – Records for fires within the city limits of Houston may be obtained at 500 Jefferson, Ste. 1500 . The cost per fire record is $5 – must have date, time and location of incident. Contact 713-495-4292. Records for fires of suspicious origin may be obtained from the HFD Arson Division; please call 713-865-9000.
FIRE RECORDS – OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS - Call the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office at 281-931-1085.
FIRE RESCUE TEAM CONTACT - If this is an emergency call 9-1-1. The Rescue Team is a part of the Houston Fire Department.
FIRE SAFETY COLORING BOOKS - The Fire Department has a limited amount of coloring books. We may not have books available year-round. Please call the HFD Public Affairs Office at 713-495-7900 for more information.
FIRE SAFETY PROGRAMS - Contact the Houston Fire Department Public Education Division. phone 713-865-7120. The Fire Safety Programs that are done during regular business hours are free of charge. Programs that are outside regular hours will require a permit that allows personnel to be assigned on an overtime basis. Programs are available in Spanish. Specify that you would like the program in Spanish when speaking with the Public Education Office. Fire Safety Programs are available in Spanish, call the Public Education Division at 713-865-7120. Click Here for additional information.
FIRE STATION TOUR SCHEDULING AND DURATION - To schedule a Fire Station tour contact the Houston Fire Department Community Relations at 713-495-7900 or or fill out this form (click here) and fax to 713-646-5321. When faxing a request please make sure to include the date of the event, time and the number and ages of the children. School groups with special needs are also welcomed (i.e. wheel chair ramps, etc.) Please note however that the stations meeting their requirements may not necessarily be the closest Fire Station to their school. The station tour last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Times may vary depending on the number and ages of the children attending.
FIRE TRUCK AT A PARADE OR EVENT- LENGTH OF TIME ALLOTTED - All HFD Fire Trucks can only stay at pre-scheduled events for the maximum of 2 hours per day. Also, make note that regardless of the event all Fire Trucks remain in-service during their visit. In other words, if an emergency occurs in their territory they must leave your event to respond to that emergency. If the event is a parade, and the Fire Truck receives a call before the start of the parade, the Fire Truck is considered in-service and must respond to the emergency. However, once the parade actually begins the Fire Truck will remain out-service. In other words, if an emergency occurs in their territory during the parade they will not leave your parade to respond to that emergency. To schedule contact the Houston Fire Department Community Relations at 713-495-7900 or or fill out this form (click here) and fax to 713-646-5321 at least 2 weeks in advance.
FIRE TRUCK VISIT SCHEDULING TO SCHOOL, EVENT OR PARADE - It must be scheduled with at least 2 weeks notice. Contact the Houston Fire Department Community Relations at 713-495-7900. To schedule a Fire Station tour contact the Houston Fire Department Community Relations at 713-495-7900 or or fill out this form (click here) and fax to 713-646-5321. (two weeks in advance).
FIRE ZONE - To report a fire zone violation or to see about getting a fire zone at a place of business, contact the Houston Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division that enforces the Fire Code. Day number 713-865-7100, Night number 713-884-3143
FIREFIGHTER TRAINING FACILITY - The Houston Fire Department Training Facility, formally named the Val Jahnke Training Facility, is located at 8030 Braniff, just south of Hobby airport.
FIREFIGHTER TRAINING FACILITY TOURS - Tours of the Training Facility may be scheduled. Contact the Training Facility District Chief: 713- 640-0302. Visitors to the Academy are restricted to certain areas of the facility. They are not allowed to sit in on any classes or interact with the fire trainees in any way.
FIREFIGHTER'S CALENDAR - Contact the HFD Union local 341 at 713-223-9166 or the Firefighter's Museum at 713-524-2526 .
FIREWORKS VIOLATIONS - You can contact the Houston Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division that enforces the Fire Code at Day: 713-865-7100 or Night: 713-884-3143. You will not have to give your name or address and your identity can remain confidential.
FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAM - The Fire Department has a First Responder system where sometimes emergency protocol requires and ambulance to have assistance and the closest fire company is then dispatched. Sometimes a fire company is also dispatched if the closest ambulance is not available in addition to the nearest available ambulance. The Fire Department recognizes that in many emergencies time is an important factor and the sooner care can be started the better chance the patient has of survival.
FOSTER HOME INSPECTIONS -When someone needs a home inspection for a foster home, the contact is Senior Inspector Billy Lambert. His office number is 713-865-7170.
FREE SMOKE DETECTORS – CRITERIA TO RECEIVE You can call Community Outreach Division at 713-495-7922. for more information. Senior citizens, people on a fixed income with young children, or people with a disability that live in their own home within Houston's City limits are qualified for a free smoke detector. Provide HFD's Public Education with your name, phone number and address so that we can schedule a time with you to do the installation.
GAS SMELL- You will need to get out of the house and then call 9-1-1 for the Fire Department from outside of the house or from a neighbor's house. The use of a phone could cause the gas to ignite if you called from inside the house.
GUIDELINES TO RIDE ON FIRE TRUCK – Contact the HFD Public Information Office at 713-495-7900.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE - The Hazardous Materials Response Team is a part of the Houston Fire Department. The HMRT may be contacted at 713-928-6711 . To have the Hazardous Materials Response Team speak to civic clubs and schools, schedule presentations by contacting 713-928-6152.
INSPECTION RECORDS - To obtain a copy of an inspection record (violations, etc) from the HFD Fire Marshal Office, please submit an open records request (include your contact information with mailing address) to: Nekiea Corpening, 500 Jefferson, Ste. 1600, Houston, TX 77002, Fax: (713) 646-5316 or E-mail: nekiea.corpening@cityofhouston.net
JAWS OF LIFE - The Jaws of Life are strategically located through out the City on 18 ladder trucks, 1 pumper truck, 2 rescue trucks and 5 airport rescue fire fighting apparatuses.
KEYS LOCKED IN CAR- The Fire Department only unlocks vehicles that have a person locked or trapped inside, such as a child or infant, call 9-1-1.
LANDLORD HAS NOT INSTALLED SMOKE DETECTOR - You would need to call the Houston Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division, 713-865-7100.
LOST BICYCLE REGISTRATION RECEIPT - Call HPD at 713-731-5893 to find out your registration number.
PARAMEDIC QUALIFICATIONS AND APPLICATION - Interested applicants can obtain an application and qualifications at the HFD Recruiting Division located at 500 Jefferson, Ste. 1500 or visit the classified recruiting website (click here)
SCHOOL DOORS CHANGED - You can contact the Houston Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division that enforces the Fire Code at Day: 713-865-7100 or Night: 713-884-3131.
SMOKE DETECTOR PROGRAM - Smoke Detectors are provided and installed by HFD personnel in residences of citizens who cannot afford one. Limited to private residence. Contact the Smoke Detector Hotline at 713-247-5110.
TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CLUB - You can contact the Houston Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division that enforces the Fire Code. Day: 713-865-7100 Night: 713-884-3131.
