Dallas Fire-Rescue Department Explained

Dallas Fire-Rescue Department
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:City
Subdivision Name2: Dallas
Coordinates:32.7833°N -144°W
Employees:1,939 [1]
Staffing:Career
Chief:Dominique Artis
Alsorbls:Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS)
Iaff:Local 58
Divisions:7
Battalions:9
Stations:59
Engines:59
Trucks:24
Rescues:2
Ambulances:55 (49 Frontline, 6 SFP)
Tenders:1
Hazmat:2
Usar:TX TF 2 Urban Search and Rescue Team
Crash:5[2]
Wildland:1[3]
Fireboats:1
Rescue Boats:6
Light And Air:1

The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department provides Fire Suppression, Hazardous Materials Mitigation, Technical Rescue Services, Emergency Medical Response Services and other public safety services to the city of Dallas, Texas. Dallas Fire-Rescue is the second-largest fire department in Texas, with 59 fire stations.

Overview

Area served

The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department serves approximately 1.6 million people within the City of Dallas, Texas. DFRD is organized into 2 divisions, with 10 battalions, and 59 fire stations for each geographic area of the city. Dallas Fire-Rescue faces some challenges within their district. Including 2 airports, large bodies of water, many high rises, and over 6 major highways.

Organization

The department's current fire chief is Dominique Artis.[4] The department has four bureaus, each directed by an assistant chief: Emergency Response, Emergency Medical Services and Special Operations; Recruiting and Communications; Fire Prevention & Investigation; and Training and Administration. Under each assistant chief, deputy chiefs or managers coordinate specific programs and branches.

History

The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department began operations on July 4, 1872, in response to a large fire 12 years earlier in July 1860.[5] During the interim, there was a disorganized response with delays in starting due in part to the Civil War, The department became fully salaried in 1885.[6]

Chief Artis[7] assumed his role in December 2018 after the previous chief David Coatney resigned to become director of Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.[8]

Urban search and rescue

The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department was instrumental in the creation of Texas Task Force 2,[9] one of two urban search and rescue (USAR) teams in the State of Texas.[10] It is managed by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service and headquartered in Dallas.[11]

Notable incidents responded to by Task Force 2 include Hurricane Dolly (2008), Hurricane Ike (2008),[12] the West Fertilizer Company explosion (2013) & Hurricane Harvey (2017).[13] [14]

Stations and apparatus

Dallas Fire-Rescue operates from 59 stations. Fire apparatus operated is mainly Spartan however a change to Pierce has started with the recent purchase of a squad & several trucks & engines.[15]

Fire station number and nicknameAddressEngine CompanyTruck CompanyEMS Rescue UnitsChief and Supervisor UnitsSpecial UnitBattalion[16]
1 1901 Irving Blvd.Engine 1Rescue 1EMS Supervisor (780)9
2 "Midway Mavericks" (2)4211 Northhaven RoadEngine 2EMS Supervisor (782)7
3 "The Gator Pit"500 N. Malcolm X Blvd.Engine 3Truck 3 (Tiller)Rescue 3Hazmat 3(Tiller), Foam 3, Support 3, Car 810, Car 8111
4 "Old School"816 South Akard StreetEngine 4Truck 4 (Tiller)Rescue 4Battalion Chief 11
5 "The Nickel"2039 St. Augustine DriveEngine 5Rescue 5Single-Function Paramedic Rescue 758
6 "Pride of South Dallas"2301 Pennsylvania Ave, DallasEngine 6Rescue 6Command 11
7 "Pride of North Dallas"6010 Davenport RoadEngine 7Battalion Chief 2Booster 72
8 "Beast of the East"1904 North Garrett AvenueEngine 8Rescue 8Battalion Chief 33
9 "Strong to the Finish"2002 Cool Mist LaneEngine 9Rescue 9Booster 98
10 "The Last Outpost"4451 Frankford RoadEngine 10Truck 10 Rescue 102
11 "The Big House"3828 Cedar Springs RoadEngine 11Truck 11Rescue 113
12 "Dirty Dozen"7520 West Wheatland RoadEngine 12Single-Function Paramedic Rescue 766
13 "Lucky Dogs"6902 Frankford RoadEngine 13Rescue 132
14 1005 West Twelfth StreetEngine 14Battalion Chief 66
15 "Top of the Cliff"111 East Eighth StreetEngine 15Rescue 15Tender 15 (TIFMAS), Blocker 56
16 "Pride of West Dallas"2616 Chalk Hill RoadEngine 169
17 "Pride of Lakewood"6045 Belmont AvenueEngine 17Truck 17Rescue 173
18 "Always Rollin'"660 North Griffin StreetEngine 18Truck 18 (Platform)Rescue 18, Rescue 218Air supply units (820), (821),Light-Air unit (829)1
19 "Fightin' XIX"5600 E Grand AveEngine 19Truck 19Rescue 193
20 "Knights of the North"12727 Montfort DriveEngine 20Truck 20 (Tiller)Rescue 202
213210 Love Field Drive

(Dallas Love Field)

Red 1, 2 & 3, Medic 17
22 "Men of Mayhem"12200 Coit RoadEngine 22Rescue 22Booster 222
231660 South Corinth Street RoadEngine 23Truck 23 (Tiller)Rescue 235
242426 Elsie Faye Heggins St.Engine 24Truck 24Rescue 241
25 "South Oak Cliff"2112 56th StreetEngine 25Truck 25 Rescue 25Single-Function Paramedic Rescue 70Battalion Chief 55
26 "Pride of West Oak Cliff" 3303 Sheldon AvenueEngine 26Rescue 26EMS Supervisor (781)9
278401 Douglas AvenueEngine 27Truck 27 (Platform)Rescue 27USAR 27, USAR Support 277
288701 Greenville AvenueEngine 28Rescue 28Battalion Chief 4Box 4 Canteen Unit (896)Box 4 Support Unit (897)4
299830 Shadow Way DallasEngine 29Rescue 294
35 "Road Warriors" (30)11381 Zodiac LnEngine 30Rescue 30Swift Water 307
31 "White Rock"9365 Garland RoadEngine 31Boat 314
32 "Gateway to the Grove"4262 N. Jim Miller RoadEngine 32Rescue 32EMS Supervisor (783)8
33 "Oak Cliff" (33) and "South Oak Cliff" (46)745 West Illinois AvenueEngine 33Truck 33Rescue 33USAR 336
34 "Pride of the Grove"1234 Carbona DriveEngine 34Rescue 34Battalion Chief 8Rescue 778
35 "Six Mile Road" (35)3839 Walnut Hill LaneEngine 35 Battalion Chief 77
36 "West Dallas"3241 North Hampton RoadEngine 36Truck 36 (Platform)Single-Function Paramedic Rescue 71Battalion Chief 99
37 "Five points of Paradise"6780 Greenville AvenueEngine 37Truck 37Rescue 37Division Chief 1 (806)Hazmat 374
38 "Southeast Oak Cliff"2839 Wilhurt Ave.Engine 38Rescue 38Single-Function Paramedic Rescue 72EMS Supervisor (785)5
39 "The Marines"2850 Ruidosa AveEngine 39Truck 39 (Tiller)Rescue 39Marine 1 4
40 "Cowboys of the Cliff"2440 Kirnwood DriveEngine 40Truck 40Rescue 40Brush 405
41 "Preston Hollow"5920 Royal LnEngine 41 Rescue 417
423333 West Mockingbird LaneEngine 42 Rescue 42Red 42 (Reserve)Mass Casualty Vehicle (788)7
43 "Pride of Letot"2844 Lombardy LaneEngine 43Truck 43Rescue 43Blocker 47
44 "Fightin' 44s"2025 Lagow St.Engine 44 Rescue 44Safety Chief 8323
45 "Fighting 45" 716 West Commerce StreetEngine 45Rescue 45Booster 451
46 "South Oak Cliff"331 E Camp Wisdom RdEngine 46Rescue 465
477161 Envoy CourtEngine 47Rescue 479
48 "Pride of the Northeast"10480 East Northwest HighwayEngine 48Single-Function Paramedic Rescue 734
49 "The Rock"4901 South Hampton Road(Dallas Executive Airport)Engine 49Rescue 49Red 496
50 "By Aerial, By Land, By Sea"841 S. Walton Walker Blvd.Engine 50Truck 50Rescue 50Trail 50Boat 509
51 "Area 51"200 South St. Augustine RoadEngine 51Rescue 51Booster 518
52 "The Hornets Nest" 2504 Cockrell Hill RoadEngine 52Rescue 52Booster 526
53 "Fightin' 53s"1407 John West RdEngine 53Truck 53Rescue 538
54 "Midnight Riders"6238 Bonnieview RoadEngine 54Rescue 54Boat 54Brush 545
55 "Double Nickle"6600 Trammel DriveEngine 55Rescue 55EMS Supervisor (784)3
56 "Fretz Park"7040 Belt Line RdEngine 56Truck 56Rescue 562
57 "Knights of Audelia"10801 Audelia RoadEngine 57Truck 57 Rescue 574
58 "The Outpost"9393 Water Mill RdEngine 587
597097 Jim Miller RdEngine 59Truck 59Rescue 59Swift Water 598

Notable Incidents

Alarm Assignments

Dallas Fire-Rescue Department has a set protocol for structure fire responses. Each fire is dispatched as a "Structure Fire Reported" (Category A) or “HIRISE Structure Fire Reported” (Category B). Once a fire unit is on scene and has reported on the conditions of the fire, the unit will either "tap out" the box (canceling all units except for the units on scene already) if there is no fire or smoke showing, or upgrade the fire to a working assignment. If the fire is large enough, "alarm" upgrades will be transmitted, sending additional units to the scene. A working fire becomes a first alarm, if more units are required, a second alarm is transmitted, and so on and so forth. Any Category B High Rise Box with that reports out with initial fire company with fire or smoke showing will automatically be transmitted as 2nd Alarm High Rise Box. The following is a list of Alarm types along with the Units assigned.

Alarm TypeUnits Assigned [20]
Box Alarm (Category A)3 Engine Companies, 2 Truck Companies, 2 Battalion Chief Units, 1 RIC Engine
Working Fire Upgrade1 Rescue Unit, 2 Fire Investigator Units
Second Alarm UpgradeAdds 3 Engine Companies, 2 Truck Companies, 2 Battalion Chief Units, Safety Chief (832) 1 Division Chief Unit (Unless already on ticket), 1 USAR Team, 1 Rescue Companies, Air Truck (829), EMS Supervisor Unit, 896 (Canteen), PIO*(During Business Hours
Third Alarm UpgradeAdds 3 Engine Companies, 1 Truck Company, 2 EMS Supervisor Unit, 780, PIO
Fourth Alarm UpgradeAdds 3 Engine Companies, 1 Truck Company, Command 1, Fire Marshall
Fifth Alarm UpgradeAdds 3 Engine Companies and Trucks will be at the Incident Commanders request
Box Alarm (Category B "High Rise")4 Engine Companies, 4 Truck Companies, 3 Battalion Chief Units, 1 Division Chief Unit, 1 Safety Chief (832) Unit, 1 EMS Shift SDO, 1 Rescue Unit
Second Alarm Upgrade(High Rise)Adds 4 Engine Companies, 3 Truck Companies, 2 Battalion Chief Units, 1 Division Chief Unit (Unless already on ticket), 1 USAR Team, 2 Rescue Companies, Air Truck (829), EMS Supervisor Unit
Third Alarm Upgrade(High Rise)Adds 3 Engine Companies, 2 Truck Companies, 2 Rescue Companies
Four through 6 Alarm Upgrade(High Rise)Adds 3 Engine Companies and 2 Truck Companies
Seventh or Greater Alarm Upgrade(High Rise)Adds 3 Engine Companies and Trucks will be at the Incident Commanders request

Line of Duty Deaths

The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department has suffered a number of Line of Duty Deaths during its operational history.[21] [17] The department has a memorial to their fallen members at the department museum. DFRS maintains an interactive list that explores the individual's lives & the events that led to their line of duty death.[22]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dallas Promotes New Fire-Rescue Chief From Within. 28 December 2018. cbslocal.com. 13 January 2023. 8 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230408004209/https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/dallas-promotes-new-fire-chief/. live.
  2. Web site: City of Dallas: Dallas Fire-Rescue Department. www.dallasfirerescue.com. 2019-04-18. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418143148/http://www.dallasfirerescue.com/special_operations_aviation.html. live.
  3. Web site: City of Dallas: Dallas Fire-Rescue Department. www.dallasfirerescue.com. 2019-04-18. 2019-04-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20190428091302/http://www.dallasfirerescue.com/special_operations_wildland.html. live.
  4. Web site: Public Information. dallasfirerescue.com. 2019-04-13. 2019-04-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20190408043731/http://dallasfirerescue.com/public_information.html. live.
  5. Web site: Archives_1991-025. dallascityhall.com. 2019-04-18. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418133343/https://dallascityhall.com/government/citysecretary/archives/Pages/Archives_1991-025.aspx. live.
  6. Web site: Leadership History. dallasfirerescue.com. 2019-04-13. 2019-04-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20190407113205/http://dallasfirerescue.com/leadership_history.html. live.
  7. Web site: Dallas Promotes New Fire Chief from Within. Firehouse. 2019-04-18. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418134359/https://www.firehouse.com/leadership/video/21038952/dallas-promotes-new-fire-chief-from-within. live.
  8. Web site: Dallas Chief Leaving for Higher Education. Firehouse. 2019-04-18. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418134357/https://www.firehouse.com/leadership/news/21027694/dallas-fire-rescue-chief-leaving-for-texas-am-position-firefighters. live.
  9. Web site: Urban Search & Rescue (US&R). www.nctcog.org. 2019-04-18. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418133127/https://www.nctcog.org/ep/workinggroups/usar. live.
  10. Web site: Dallas Regional Urban Search & Rescue Task Force. 2006-09-19. dallascityhall.com. 2019-04-18. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418132430/http://www3.dallascityhall.com/committee_briefings/briefings0906/20060919_PS_USAR.pdf. live.
  11. Web site: Texas Task Force 2 to be managed locally by TEEX. www.kbtx.com. 2019-04-18. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418132529/https://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Texas-Task-Force-2-to-be-managed-locally-by-TEEX-437749763.html. live.
  12. Web site: Texas Task Force 2: Response to Hurricane Ike. dallascityhall.com. 2019-04-18. 2020-10-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20201001082334/http://www3.dallascityhall.com/committee_briefings/briefings1108/PS_responseHurricaneIke_11032008.pdf. live.
  13. Web site: Texas Task Force 1 & 2 still rescuing people as flood waters recede. Michael. Oder. www.kbtx.com. 2019-04-18. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418015601/https://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Texas-Task-Force-1--2-still-rescuing-people-as-flood-waters-recede-442556803.html. live.
  14. Web site: Deployments. 1 February 2018. Texas Task Force 2. 18 April 2019. 8 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230408004153/https://texastaskforce2.org/deployments/. live.
  15. Web site: Find a Fire Station. Dallas Fire-Rescue. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929204212/https://dallascityhall.com/departments/fire-rescue/Pages/fire-stations.aspx . 2020-09-29 .
  16. Web site: DFR Fire Districts . 2020-12-17. 2022-12-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20221212144226/https://gisservices-dallasgis.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/463d55dcd3994dbdb1798dfc75c6c793?fullScreen=true&geometry=-97.000,32.709,-96.468,32.921 . live .
  17. Web site: The Worst Fire in Dallas History. dmagazine.com. 2019-04-18. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418133604/https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2014/february/worst-fire-in-dallas-history-golden-pheasant-inferno/. live.
  18. Web site: Dallas Fire-Rescue chief speaks out on officer shootings. FireRescue1. 2019-05-18. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418142731/https://www.firerescue1.com/dallas-shooting/articles/108856018-Dallas-Fire-Rescue-chief-speaks-out-on-officer-shootings/. live.
  19. Web site: 6 dead after a pair of vintage military aircraft collided at a Texas air show. CNN. 13 November 2022. 14 November 2022. 8 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230408004220/https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/us/dallas-air-show-collision-sunday/index.html. live.
  20. Web site: Incident Run Sheets . www.box4.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080821105910/http://www.box4.org/incident/index.cgi . 2008-08-21.
  21. Web site: Draft of Dallas LODD report more critical than official version. FireRescue1. 2019-04-18. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418132214/https://www.firerescue1.com/line-of-duty-death/articles/2025140-Draft-of-Dallas-LODD-report-more-critical-than-official-version/. live.
  22. Web site: City of Dallas: Dallas Fire-Rescue Department. dallasfirerescue.com. 2019-04-13. 2019-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418191716/http://www.dallasfirerescue.com/LOD.html. live.