It is with a heavy heart that the Houston Fire Department has to report the loss of two of its own. On Sunday, April 12, 2009, the Houston Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire just after midnight in the 7800 block of Oak Vista in southeast Houston. Firefighters quickly called for defensive attack on the fire and sadly Captain James Harlow and Probationary Firefighter Damion Hobbs of Station 26 succumbed to the fire.
Captain James Harlow
Probationary Firefighter Damion Hobbs
Captain James Harlow, 50, was hired by the HFD in 1979 and has been a Captain at Fire Station 26 since 2004.
Probationary Firefighter Damion Hobbs, 29, graduated from the HFD Val Jahnke Training Facility on March 3, 2009, with Class 2008C, and began his first assignment at Fire Station 26 on March 7.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
A public viewing was held on Wednesday, April 15, from 12 to 6 pm at Grace Community Church, 14505 Gulf Freeway.A combined Memorial Service was held on Thursday, April 16, at 10am at Grace Community Church, 14505 Gulf Freeway.
HFD Mourns The Loss of Two Members 
