From the Desk Of Fire Chief Joe Davis
The Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department and Harris County Emergency Services District #9 continue to work on improving our responses to your emergencies. For the last several years we have embarked on a program to improve our focus on community issues and work on expanding our response programs. We have recently been reviewed by Insurance Services Organization, (ISO) and during their extensive review of our suppression (fire) services; we have improved from a level 5/9 to a service level 3. A service level 3 (lower number being better) shows a marked improvement over our prior service level and this allows the insurance companies that insure homes and businesses in our area to lower the premiums an average of 8% per customer. This savings will begin immediately and the final ISO rating of 3 will begin November 2005. Our average homeowner will realize a savings of $245 annually and businesses will receive a similar reduction in premiums. Considering the average homeowner pays $85 in taxes for fire and emergency medical services in ESD #9, our services not only is offset by the savings there are additional savings, above what you pay in taxes.
Our department is continuing to grow and our long range planning is responding to the record growth in our area. Our 9th full time ambulance has been in service for two years and our EMS service continues to provide innovative medical responses to our area. We have added several new Auto-Pulses and upgraded to Life-Pak 15 medical devices that improve the delivery of Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation to patients. Our stations are providing a nighttime manning in each district and covered by manned nighttime squad units for quick responses. This will provide a district fire truck and squad response that will be out the door in 2 minutes. This will improve the response times and bring assistance to your door as rapidly as possible. We have taken delivery on new replacement Engines and a replacement Heavy Rescue truck. Our 12th station has been completed and in service to the area of Fry Road-Clay-Little York-Greenhouse. We continue to work with new subdivisions and developers in our area to locate potential station sites and anticipate the needs of the community. Outdoor burning and fireworks continue to be problematic in our area with multiple grass fires and brush fires. We will be replacing 3 booster trucks this summer. These trucks will be constructed by our maintenance department and they are excited to have a new maintenance facility under construction to be completed and occupied by July 2010.
As we have in the past, we are actively recruiting volunteers to assist our volunteers to help provide service to this area. If you are interested, we will provide you with information and an up close look at our firefighting and EMS services. Our department provides the training and equipment for all our volunteers. In conjunction with Cy-Fair College, we also support our members to continue training and become certified EMS, Haz-Mat technicians, or advanced firefighters. Please prepare your family by reviewing your smoke detectors, CO detectors, and preplanning with your family an escape route just in case of a fire. Prevention should always be on your mind and make your environment safe for all concerned.
Emergency: Dial 911
Office: 281-550-6663
Fax: 281-550-7288