Chapter Seven - Houston Fire Memorialhoustonfirememorial.org/HFD-Pictorial Hist 1895-1980/7... · 2019-02-15 · see its first woman Fire Fighter. New equipment was purchased in the

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Chapter Seven

The rapid growth of the city of Houston in the 1970’s can be attributed to the expansion of the ship channel and the commerce generated there. The HFD would acquire a new fire boat, the “W.L. Farnsworth” and take over Channel Industries Mutual Aid (CIMA) as coordinating authority. Houston was considered the “Energy Capital of the World” however the petroleum industry would present “World Class” problems for Houston Fire Fighters. The memory of the Texas City Disaster was fresh in the mind of every Fire Fighter who had to extinguish a burning tank car. The difficulty of controlling a major industrial blaze was compounded by the lack of information regarding the contents of the building, tanker or burning box car the Fire Fighters had to approach. In addition to the

unique problems of fighting a chemical fire the Department had to service over 550 square miles of territory and a population of a million and a half. The Department took over Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in 1971 and opened a new Fire Alarm Building in 1975. Houston would enact Fire Codes for the city, a first. Due to the high number of false alarms the decision was made to remove the majority of the fire alarm boxes from the city. The all-male tradition in the Department would end in 1975 as HFD would see its first woman Fire Fighter. New equipment was purchased in the way of a Rescue/Salvage truck and a Telesquirt truck. The 1970’s would end with the blaze of the century “The Woodway Square” apartment fire.

1970-1979

Left: Taking up a city block, the Lack’s Warehouse caught fire January 10, 1970. The fire lasted over four hours and required 29 engines and seven ladder trucks to bring it under control. Damages exceeded $1 million. (Mike Simmons)

Fire Chiefs:James M. HoneaFred A. HookerJohn S. Little, Jr.Joseph H. PerinoV.E. Rogers

Line of Duty Deaths:Lewis “Moe” Washington RichardsonJackie Dunham Ludwick

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Above: Houston Fire Department badge in use from the late 1960’s to present. The current badges in use are only a slight variation. This badge shows the rank of Private, which has since been change to the rank of Fire Fighter.

(Matt Milam)

Top Right: The Houston Fire Department Band, the “Fire House Five”. The band was formed in 1968 by Leon “Pappy” Selph. From left to right, Bill Fehmer,

David Little, Don Williams (on the drums, not seen) and Neil Taylor. The band played for Fire House openings,

Academy Graduations and Fire Prevention Week in the local malls. (“Jake” Cook)

Right: A Fire Fighter graduating class. During this time the graduations were held downstairs at Fire House

No. 1, utilizing the whole apparatus floor. (“Jake” Cook)

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Above from Top Left to Bottom Right: Houston FireDepartment Fire Chiefs 1970-1979. (All Photos Houston Fire Department )James “Jim” Honea, Fire Chief, 1973-1974Fred A.Hooker, Fire Chief, 1974John S. Little Jr., Fire Chief, 1974-1976Joseph “Joe” H. Perino, Fire Chief, 1976-78V. E. Rogers, Fire Chief, 1978-1984

Left: District Chief 7, B Shift, Donald Crowder, working a house fire on Albany Street in 1975. (Johnie J. Reneau)

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Above: This Fire Fighter’s shoulder patch was first used in the late 1960’s and was retired for the new version

in 1992. (Matt Milam)

Top Right: Fire House No. 28, 5116 Westeimer, C Shift, 1976. From left to right, Steve Hargrett, Scott McManus, Jody Harris, Captain Wallace Mitchell and Rikii Rogers.

(Houston Fire Department)

Right: Fire House No. 33, 7100 Fannin Street, 1976. From left to right, Harold Hendricks, Captain Seymore

Willis, Harry Lively, David Smith and Gary Alston. (Houston Fire Department)

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Top Left: Fire House No. 18 B Shift, 1976, 5000 Telephone Road. From eft to right, Julius Dedlar, Terry Don Shell, William “Bill” Shefield, Susie” The Fire Dog”,William “Bill” Love. (Houston Fire Department)

Above: Susie was the mascot at Fire House No. 18 from 1973 until she retired in 1981. This is Susie’s yearbook “mug shot” from the 1977 HFD Yearbook. (Bill Sheffield)

Left: Fire House No. 8, 1307 Crawford, B Shift, 1976. From left to right, Harvey Birdwell, Captain J. D. Winters, Rick Lane, Dale Lawson, Ronnie Deboard, and Robert “Pappy” Zwissler. (Houston Fire Department)

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The 1970’s started out with a fire that claimed one Fire Fighters life and horribly burned another. On October 19, 1971 near Mykawa road, sixteen railroad cars derailed creating a situation of danger mixed with anxiety. The initial explosion created a series of fires along the track that threatened other tank cars. There was some reservation about the contents of the derailed cars but officials were slow to identify the cargo. A second explosion claimed the life of Inspector Truxton J. Hathaway and severely burned Fire Fighter Andy Nelson. The blast also burned 37 Fire Fighters and civilians. Two foams trucks arrived at the scene and put out the fire in 40 minutes. The railcar derailment was believed to have been caused by poor track conditions combined with too few railroad cross ties.

Left: (Houston Fire Department)

Opposite Page: (Houston Fire Department)

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Opposite Page: Fire in the Fourth Ward, Ladder 7 operating at a large house on fire. Photo taken early-1970’s (Jimmy Hunter)

Left: Fire House No. 34, 2812 Berry Road and Jensen, 1971. Left to right, Captain Joe Holman, Captain John Wedgeworth, Chief Marvin Kent, Arthur “Ace’ Datry, William “Butch” Edmonds, Ronald Freytag, Bill Selph, Teddy Itzen and Dee Leonard. (“Butch” Edmonds)

Below: The Houston Fire Department took over the ambulance service in Houston in 1971. The first ambulances were converted vans, however the design was not condusive to efficient operations. As a result, the Department purchased newer, safer ambulances, retiring the old models by 1974. (Houston Fire Department)

Below Left: Crew of Engine 7 loading hose after a fire. The Fire Fighter on the left has the female end of the hose and is coupling the hoses together. The Fire Fighter on the right has the male end and is required to look the other direction in order to speed up the process. Left in the photo is Danny Burnett, on the right is Harold Coats. (Family of Charley Burnett)

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Opposite Page: Fire in the Lawyer’s Title building, 1974. (Caption Credit)

Left: The Mayor signing an agreement between the City of Houston, the Houston Fire Department and the National Labor Recruitment Program. The agreement was to recruit and hire more minority Fire Fighters. From left to right, Rudolf Cline, Marie Brown, National Labor Recruitment program staff member Roscoe J. Hamby, Director of the National Labor Recruitment Program Lester Tyra, member of the Houston Labor Recruitment Program Roy Emanuel, Dennis Holder, Raleigh Murphy and Jason Perry. (Rudolph Cline)

Below: Three alarm fire at Louisiana and Holman, 1975. Seen in this photo is Fire Fighter Eddie Maher. (Houston Fire Department)

Below Left: Engine 14 on scene at a very large warehouse fire. Photo taken 1977. (Houston Fire Department)

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Above: Cadets in 1971 watching an evolution (drill), Bob Zimmerman on the left keeping an eye on the whole

process. (Scott Fults)

Top Right: Crew of Engine 20, 1976. From left to right, Richard Tellez, Captain Jerry McDaniels, Benny Albers,

Charlie Lemley and Carl Matejka. (Benny Albers)

Right: Crew of Engine 1, in the early-1970’s. The Fire Fighter in the middle is Amado Garza.

(Houston Fire Department)

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The newspapers were quick to compare the Englewood Rail Yard Fire of September 21, 1974 to the Texas City Disaster of 1947. A leaking Liquefied Petroleum Gas tank car exploded in the rail yard setting off a series of other explosions and fires. The blast broke glass over five miles away. The scene was described as mass confusion with 100 railroad cars burning. The Department responded with 200 Fire Fighters and 20 pieces of equipment. Over 100 people were injured and Fire Fighters were loading every ambulance with four to five victims. Only one death was reported, however 3,000 people were evacuated until the fires were tapped out. The total property damage was $14 million.

All Photos: (Houston Fire Department)

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Englewood Fire, September 21, 1974, continued

All Photos This Page: (Houston Fire Department)

Opposite Page, Bottom Right: (Houston Chronicle)

Opposite Page. All Other Photos: (Houston Fire Department)

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Above: Crew of Fire House No. 24, Left to right, Captain Donald Pullen, Scott Fults and Harold Brewer.

(Scott Fults)

Top Right: Crew of Engine 24. Left to right, Tony Tortorice, Captain David Renfro, Robert Hale and James

“Jim” Smelly. (Jim Smelly)

Right: Crew of Fire House No. 17. From left to right, Captain Tom Raney, Captain Calvin Mendel, Chris

Sanchez, Mark Snider, Ollie Barbary, Bob Tabor and Johnie J. Reneau. (Johnie J. Reneau)

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Fire on the 10th floor of the Montague Hotel in downtown Houston on Friday, March 14, 1975. At the time the hotel was considered a “Flop House” and the old building had a lot of issues. The fire was confined to one room, however the flames blocked the stairwell with no chance for the for residents to escape on that side of the hallway. The man in the

room two doors down was yelling for help when the Fire Department arrived on the scene. In the photo you can see a fire fighter leaning out the window on the nine floor. That was Captain Donald Hanks of Ladder 17 trying to devise a plan to rescue the resident. Ladder 1, was a 100 ft Aerial but was not able to get close enough to the building to allow the

ladder to reach the 10th floor. A ladder was carried up to the end and put out to the ledge of the window. Captain Hanks then got partially out of the window and used his weight to allow the frightened resident to escape the burning building. One resident did not survive. He occupied the room where the fire started. (Houston Post)

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Above: Fire Fighter Victor Cuevas, a Cadet at the Fire Academy, 1978. ( Joe Hector Delgadillo)

Above Right: Crew of Engine 38, 1974. Left to right, Ken Broeder, Dan Dillard, Danny Givens, Captain C. R.

Hickman and James Deweese. (Dan Dillard Sr.)

Right: Crew of Engine 28, 1976. Front row, left to right, Graig Mallett, Royce Gest and Ronald Ray. Back row,

standing, is Gene Geuentert. (Royce Gest)

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Above Left: In 1977 there was very bad accident that killed an HPD Motorcycle officer. The patrolman had made a traffic stop on the 610 Loop at Hwy 225. Unfortunately he stopped the vehicle where the freeway curves. A Gulf Oil truck came along and hit the motorcycle, the officer and the car he had stopped. The truck then flipped over and bust into flames. Miraculously there were no other fatalities or injuries. (Doyle Ebel)

Above: Chief Doyle Ebel, a very well respected District Chief, serve the Houston Fire Department from 1948 to 1988. He was one of the Chiefs commanding the 610 Loop fire. (Doyle Ebel)

Left: Loop 610 and Highway 225, from left to right, Chief Richard LeMoing, Captain Mike Tollett, Acting Captain Larry Caswell. (Doyle Ebel)

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Above: HFD Ambulance crew taken about 1977. (Houston Fire Department)

Top Right: Crash Station 54, 1970, one of the first crews to work at the new IAH Airport. Left to right, top row,

Wifred Greater, Arnold Baker, Richard Irwin, James Kelly, Joe Cunninham, Joe Muirhead, Robert Hoot,

Calvin Jones, Harold McBee, Jack Wood and Everett Hatch. Bottom row, Larry Rooney, Van Daniel, Kenneth Eaves, Bill Simmons and Alex Pavlicek. (Arnold Baker)

Right: Crew of Ladder 28, February 1970. Left to right, Randall Shipley, Frank Kelner and Jessie Williams.

(Family of J. D. Fisher)

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Above Left: The Crew of Engine 33, 1976. Left to right, Doug Ross, Captain Hoot, Bill Shipp, Richard Chandler and Gerald Harper. (Doug Ross)

Above: Scott Fults at the Fire Training Academy learning how to master the Pompier Ladder in 1970. (Scott Fults)

Left: Hobert Hoggard and Captain Clifford Reed with Fire Dog in 1978. (Hobert Hoggard)

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The Texxon Motor Exchange burned on October 7, 1973. This four-alarm fire damaged over 40 cars and vans. Business owner Jack Enright estimated the loss at over $500,000.

All Photos: (Chuck Buschardt)

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The historic Foley Building fire in Old Market Square burned in 1976.All Photos: (Houston Fire Department)

Above: Houston Fire Department began purchasing Carins leather helmets in 1977. The helmet shown is called “The New Yorker”. They were in use until the late-1980’s. At that time the HFD introduced a newly designed, safer helmet that was named “The Sam Houston”. (Houston Fire Department)

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Above: In 1976 the city allowed the residents to paint their hydrants in honor of the Nation’s Bicentennial. This

was one of the many plugs that was panted throughout the City. (Dan Dillard, Sr.)

Above Right: The crew of Engine 3 doing a foam drill. Left to right, Keith Dees with Spec, Sam Roccafort,

Captain Lenny Higgins, Charlie Jacobs and Charlie S. Wilson. (Lenny Higgins)

Right: Joe Phillips entered the HFD in 1962. He retired in 2010. Joe passed away March 2012.

(Family of Birdie Thompson)

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Left: All the photos on this page were taken at a multiple alarm fire in a large warehouse on Washington Avenue, the summer of 1974. The Fire Fighter on the left is Captain Steve Berry, the Fire Fighter on the right has not been identified. (Houston Fire Department)

Above Left: Identified in this photo left to right, Captain “Red” Blevins, Roger Campbell, Fire Chief John S. Little Jr. (Houston Fire Department)

Above: Fire Fighters are working off an aerial in hopes of controlling the fire in this large warehouse. (Houston Fire Department)

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Bottom Right: Chief Chauffeur J. P. Morgan, 1974.(J. P. Morgan)

Top Right: Cadet Instructor Scott demonstrating to his Cadets how to jump into the Life Net using the proper

methods. Manning the net, left to right, Victor Pena, Donnie Meyers, Robbie Clifton, John Tollett, John

Holleman and David Dalmolin. (Mike Krzywicki)

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Left: District Chief 33, William Brian Jr. McLeroy,1973. (Family of Brian McLeroy, Jr.)

Top Left: Crew of Ladder 33, 1976. From left to right top, Rick Large and Larry Vacker. Bottom row, left to right, Jesse Thompson, Captain Tom Collins, David Easley and Nate Johnson. (Larry Vacker)

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There have been periods of time in the Fire Department’s history that a major fire would become the source of comparison for future fires. A couple good examples of catastrophic fires in Houston’s past would be the Fifth Ward blaze of 1912 and the Gulf Hotel fire in 1943. The Fifth Ward fire was massive in size and damages ran into the millions. The Gulf Hotel fire was horrific, setting a record of most deaths (55) sustained during a blaze. Then there was the Woodway Square apartment fire on July 31, 1979. It was a very hot Tuesday afternoon around 2:50 p.m. when an alarm sounded, reporting a fire in Building 30 at the Woodway Square apartments. This apartment complex was comprised of 1,089 units and had experienced five other multi-alarm calls since 1971. This one would turn out to be very different. The source of the fire was in a very inaccessible part of the complex. It took only 20 minutes for the blaze to travel 1,000 feet. Woodway Square was constructed with wood roof shingles that burned rapidly, sending off flying “brands” of burning wood. A steady 15-mile-an-hour wind would create a “fire storm” that eventually mandated a rare seventh alarm. Houston Fire Fighters faced a host of problems attacking this fire including low water pressure, erratic radio communication, lack of maneuverability within the complex and a shortage of fire hydrants. To add insult to injury, the local media helicopters were hovering too low helping to fan the flames with their rotors. The fire started just prior to shift change so initially there was double the manpower on the scene. The total number of Fire Fighters would exceed 400 by the time the fire was tapped out at 6:39 p.m. Upon review it was determined that it was still not enough manpower to fight the blaze. Over 60 pieces of equipment were used fighting this colossal fire and the mutual aid call brought in additional help from 21 area paid and volunteer Fire Departments. The damage was estimated at $20 million, a number that did not include the personal property lost by the tenants. There were over 324 apartments destroyed and another 100 damaged. It was incredible that no one died. The City of Houston would enact new Fire and Building Codes and wood shingles would become a thing of the past. New regulations regarding attic draft stops (fire walls) and the installation of smoke detectors would become another positive change from this terrible event.

Opposite Page: (Houston Fire Department)

Left: (Houston Fire Department)

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Woodway Fire, July 31, 1979, continued

This Page, Bottom Right: (Dave Miller)

All Other Photos: (Houston Fire Department)

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Woodway Fire, July 31, 1979, continued

This Page, Top Right: (Houston Metropolitan Research Center)

Opposite Page, Far Right: (Butch Edmonds)

All Other Photos: (Houston Fire Department)

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Woodway Fire, July 31, 1979, continued

All Photos: (Houston Fire Department)

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Woodway Fire, July 31, 1979, continued

This Page, Above Right: (Butch Edmonds)

All Other Photos This Page: (Houston Fire Department)

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Right: In this photo on the left is Captain Royce Beck. Captain Beck is talking to Chief Lonnie Franklin during a

fire at the 2000 block of Commonwealth. (Houston Fire Department)

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The skyline of Houston was changing rapidly. The new tall skyscrapers would obscure the arcitecture of the early-1900’s, creating a modern look for the city. (The Story Sloane Collection)