40 | The 1990s

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It’s not uncommon at morning relief time to hear one Houston firefighter tell another one “We didn’t do anything.” What that means is other than cleaning fire trucks, cleaning the station, checking fire hydrants, pre-planning buildings, studying guidelines, learning territory, updating log books, and responding to a myriad of calls for service, nothing meaningful is worth mentioning. In layman terms, nothing BIG happened. The myth is that was the report given by former Fire Chief Eddie Corral when he was replaced by Chief Lester Tyra in 1998. Corral served as Chief for most of the 1990’s (1992 – 1998) after he replaced Chief Robert Clayton (1985 – 1992). Although the story gets a chuckle out of many Houston firefighters, nothing could be further from the truth. The decade saw the department evolve from a brave band of smoke-eaters into a modern force that soon became known as one of the most experienced and well trained and equipped fire departments in the world.

The decade was an era of expansion for the city, and as the city limits expanded, so too did HFD. Stations 77 (1990), 82 (1995), 93 (1999), 94 (1996), 96 (1994), 101 (1995), 102 (1995), 103 (1995), and 104 (1995) were added to the department. The 100-series stations were opened in the recently annexed Kingwood area northeast of town. The stations were already in place as a result of the now-defunct Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department, and as a result of the unpopular annexation of the area with the termination of the popular volunteers, Houston firefighters received a less than hospitable welcome to the “Livable Forest.” Public sentiment has since changed, but the early years in Kingwood were not fun. From a fire buff’s standpoint, the highlight of the decade, if you want to call it that, took place in July of 1995. Market Street, enough said. Utter those words around some of the department’s more experienced members and you’ll likely hear the tale of a massive blaze that required seven alarms to quell and

Left: Tank truck fire, January 31, 1990, I-10 West at Silber Street. See page 44 for more details. (Photo by Jo L. Keener)

Fire Chiefs:Robert Clayton 1985 - 1992Edward Corral 1992 - 1998Lester Tyra 1998 - 2000

Line of Duty Deaths:Ruben LopezSteven Clyde Mayfield

The 1990sby Jonathan Carter

42 | The 1990s

destroyed an entire warehouse complex on the city’s east side. The fire consumed the Houston Distribution complex at 8550 Market Street. The complex was a storage facility that stored everything from flammable liquids to plastic pellets. Miraculously, no civilians or firefighters were injured at the fire, but a ladder truck from Station 19 and an enormous amount of hose and gear were destroyed when firefighters were forced to beat a hasty retreat as flames raced through the facility. Even though a fire watch would remain on site for the next few weeks after the fire, another four alarm fire would occur on the site the following month.

OTHER NOTABLE INCIDENTS FROM THE DECADE1991 – The department goes to four-shifts, setting a Houston Firefighter’s work-week to it’s current 46.7 average hours per week.1995 – Market Street fires.1996 – Volunteer District Chief Ruben Lopez, working out of Station 25, dies in a late night house fire on the city’s southeast side.1997 – A wall collapse at Northline Mall on the city’s north side killing three civilians.1998 – Station 92 Firefighter Steven Clyde Mayfield dies after suffering a heart attack while training in Dallas.1998 – The department begins to take delivery of new apparatus from E-One. The units will replace roughly 60% of the frontline equipment. A total of 55 engines, six ladder trucks, three ladder towers, and a foam pumper for the Haz-Mat Team highlight the purchase.1999 – The department takes delivery of Thermal Imager Cameras that allow firefighters to see through the smoke encountered at fires.

Top: Three alarm fire Franklin Street at St. Emanuel Street, 1991. Houston Volunteer (HVFD) District Chief Ruben Lopez. Chief Lopez became a volunteer in 1987. Ruben suffered a heart attack while fighting a fire at a house on 4006 Roseneath, December 4, 1996. Chief Lopez was the first Houston Fire Department Volunteer to die in the line of

duty. (Photo by Jo L. Keener) Bottom: Four alarm fire at the Comet Rice Mill on 4800 Clinton Drive at Japhat Street.

Captain Buddy Russell on Engine 42. (Photo by Jo L. Keener, 1991)

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Since 1895, when the Houston Fire department became a paid department, Fire House 28 has been in three locations. The first location, from 1941 to 1953, was 702 Berry Street at Louisiana Street (not shown). In 1953 Fire House 28 was relocated to the new quarters at 5116 Westheimer at Sage Road. In 1987 the new Fire House was built at 3000 Chimney Rock Road at Dolores Street. Top Left: The crew of Fire House 28 “A” Shift, 1987, from left to right, Bob Roberts Firefighter, Captain Johnnie Leggio, Sr. Captain Richard Murray, Mark Newman Firefighter, David Bond Firefighter, Malcom Armstrong Firefighter, Kenneth Scrutchin Firefighter, Kevin Brolan Chauffeur, Scott Isbell Firefighter, Mark Cook Firefighter. (Photo provided by Johnnie Leggio)Top Right: After the new Fire House 28 was built, the old building was used for a few years by Fire Prevention. After that it was put up for sale by the City of Houston. In December of 1994, Ali Taghi bought the building for an Italian men’s clothing store called A. Taghi. The store opened in September of 1995 and is still open for business today. (Photo by Glen Mears)Bottom: Fire House 28, 3000 Chimney Rock Road at Dolores Street, 2005. (Photo by Ken Paradowski)

44 | The 1990s

Tank Truck explosion and fire on the I-10 West Katy Freeway at Silber Street, just a few blocks from Fire

House 38. This was a two alarm fire and District 5 “D” Shift was the Incident Commander.

(All photos by Jo L. Keener, January 31, 1990)Top Left: Firefighters on a hose line. From left to right,

unable to identify, Steve Cassisa Houston Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD), Mark Weidenstrum Houston

Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD).Top Right: Haz-Mat Chief Max McRae. In 1979, a Haz-Mat team was formed for the Houston Fire Department.

The team was a combination Rescue and Hazardous Material Response Unit quartered at Fire House 1. On

April 11, 1982 the team became a full time Haz-Mat Unit. Chief McRae transferred from District 28 “C” Shift

where he had been many years to become the full-time Haz-mat Coordinator. He formed the Haz-Mat into one of

the top units in the country. On August 24, 1994 District Chief Max McRae turned over the unit to District Chief

Danny Snell and retired after 40 years of service.Bottom: View of the tank truck fire.

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Top Left: Three alarm apartment fire, Hollister Road at Solway Street. District 5 “A” Shift. (Photo by Jo L. Keener, 1991) Top Right: Three alarm building fire, Old Spanish Trail at Dupont Street, July 14, 1991. Alfred Taylor Firefighter Fire House 46 “B” Shift. (Photo by Jo L. Keener) Bottom: High rise rescue, window washers, March 26, 1990. Loop 610 West at Post Oak. From left to right Keith Bobbitt Firefighter, Van Kohrt Firefighter, Buddy Dyer Firefighter, Captain Clifford Reed, Captain Larry Dolch, Thomas Ponce Chauffeur. (Photo by Jo L. Keener)

46 | The 1990s

Top Left: A high rise incident in downtown Houston. From left to right, District Chief 31 Steve Jahnke, District Chief 8 Duke Jahnke, District Chief 6 Arthur Buroussard.

Photo taken 1991. (Photo provided by Rene` Jahnke)Top Right: Helicopter crashed into a roof of an

apartment building Lockwood Drive at Market Street. Southwestern Bell was using a helicopter to do a survey.

The helicopter lost power and had to make an emergency landing and did not make it to the ground. There were no fatalities. Left to right, District Chief 19 Troy Lundsford,

District Chief 41 Paul Stewart, Deputy Chief Ewell Lawson, Firefighter in background not identified.

(Photo by Jo L. Keener, May 7, 1991)Bottom: Arson Chief Roy Paul and District Chief

“Buddy” Weaver, at an unknown incident sometime in the early 1990’s. (Photo provided by David Sadowski)

Opposite Page: Three alarm fire, Slumberland Bedding Company, Old Spanish Trail at Dupont Street. (Photo by

Jo L. Keener, July 14, 1991)

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48 | The 1990s

Top Left: Fire House 15 “D” Shift 402 Tabor Street at Melwood Street. Built in 1943. From left to right, Captain

Jim Wheeler, Donnie Havemann Chauffeur. (Photo by Joe Hector Delgadillo, 1992)

Top Right: Sr. Captain Mike Owin and Captain Jim Wheeler at Fire House 15 “D” Shift. (Photo by Joe

Hector Delgadillo, February 1992)Bottom: The crew of Engine 15 “D” Shift, left to right, Rick Nowak Firefighter, Donnie Havemann Chauffeur,

Maria Delgadillo, Joe Hector Delgadillo Firefighter, Captain JimWheeler. (Photo provided by Joe Hector

Delgadillo, April 1992)

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Top Left: October 15, 1990, opening day for Fire House 77, 10155 Kempwood Drive at Gessner Drive. From left to right, Captain William Payne, Joe Estes Chauffeur, Dennis Maday Firefighter, Craig Kannady Firefighter. (Photo by Jo L. Keener)Top Right: Captain Jimmy Hunter, three alarm building fire, Old Spanish Trail at Dupont Street. (Photo by Jo L. Keener, July 14, 1991)Bottom: Photo opportunity with the President. Engine 1 “A” Shift was standing by as part of the security detail. Marine 1 landed and President Clinton walked up to them to visit. From left to right, Tammy Simon Firefighter, Bill Clinton 42nd President of the United States. Captain Ricky Hoppas, Charles Kimble Firefighter and in the cab Alvin White Chauffeur. The photo was taken by President Clinton’s personal photographer and sent to the engine crew. (Provided by Charles Kimble)

50 | The 1990s

Top: Houston Fire Academy Class 93A. The cadets began training on January 3, 1993. This class was a fast track class which means

that they were in the military or previously a firefighter for another department. This photo was taken in February 1993 shortly before they left the academy to begin their new career. Bottom row left to

right, class instructors, Sr. Captain Rick Baker, Captain Rick Pattison. Middle row left to right, Sammy Musachia, Michael Cornitius,

John Waxman, Ernest Alf, James Walterbach, Charles Rizzo, Mark Braswell, John Nemec, Justin Barnes, Jay Daniels, Derik Ward, Billy Hopkins, Ronald Merrill, Steve Smith, Raul Villasana, Jamie Devall.

Top row left to right, Scott Allen, Joe Boeing, Carey Starrett, Rob Kamman, Don Stamps, Latoya Sam, Larry Dicamillo, Bruce Cornett,

Tommy Reyes, David Swanson, Brian Chovanec, Robert Ross, Russell Fritsch, Charles Kimble, Tim Ware, Patrick Forrestal. (Photo

by the Houston Fire Department) Bottom: On March 30, 1994 a beloved member of Fire House 49,

Captain Ron Lyons, passed away. This is a group of firefighters that worked with Ron. They all met at Fire House 64 prior to attending the funeral. They are in front of the newly remodeled HFD Honor Guard

Funeral Pumper, this is the first time it had been used. From left to right, Captain Van Kohrt, Captain Don Gray, Paul Panto Firefighter,

Bob Blumrick Firefighter, David Champagne Firefighter, Captain Gary Vincent, Captain Al Zubik, Terry Vick Firefighter, Sr. Captain

William Payne, Hector Santos Firefighter. (Photo provided by William Payne)

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Top Left: Arson South Sector Investigators from left to right, John Valenti, Victor Pena, Joe Rodriguez, Robert Kent, Bob White. Photo taken in 1995. (Photo provided by Victor Pena)Top Right: The crew from Fire House 17 “A” Shift 2805 Navigation Boulevard at North Delano Street. Built in 1983. Bottom row from left to right, Bert Freeman Chauffeur, Larry Covington Firefighter. Top row from left to right, Jerry Meek Chauffeur, Captain Johnnie Reneau, Wayne Hollis Firefighter. (Photo by Marilynn Green, 1994) Bottom: The crew from Fire House 76 “A” Shift 7100 Cook Road at Sharpview Drive. Built in 1985. Bottom row from left to right, Hartsell Johnson Firefighter, Chester Gibson Firefighter, Lewis Mayo Firefighter. Top row from left to right, Russell Dunnem Firefighter, David Amalfi Chauffeur, Captain E. J. Bender, Sr. Captain Jimmie Gill, Jerry Meyers Chauffeur. (Photo by Marilynn Green, 1994)

52 | The 1990s

Seven alarm warehouse fire at the Houston Distribution Center, 8550 Market Street at Gellhorn Drive, June 24, 1995. The firefighters were able to save the western half of the very large building. Ironically that half of the building went up in flames on July 9, 1995. This time it was a four alarm fire. (Photo by the Houston Fire Department)

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Four alarm fire in the Star Wholesale building, 7000 Harwin Drive at Savoy. The building is used by Dollar General as a warehouse. The fire occurred sometime in 1998 on the “B” Shift. (All photos provided by the Houston Fire Department)Top Left: The District 28 command post. In the foreground of the photo are from left to right is Chief Hal Vaughan, Captain Don Martin, District 28 Chief Gary Taylor, Marshall Hefley Chauffeur, Craig McDowell Director of the Office of Emergency Management. Far left is Daniel Matt, all others are not identified.Top Right: Deputy Chief K. B. Whitehorn on the left and Marshall Hefley Chauffeur on the right.Bottom: Side view showing Ladder 51’s ladder pipe operation.

54 | The 1990s

On the early morning of February 21, 1997, Engine 1 “A” Shift responded to a report of a church fire at 1402 Saulnier Street at Wilson Street in Houston’s Fourth Ward. The former Good Hope Missionary

Baptist Church built in 1929 was being remodeled as a community center dedicated to the late Senator Barbara

Jordan, a life long member of the church. As Engine 1 turned on Saulnier Street, the roof of the old church had been burning for quite some time. The

fire weakened the wall of the church, which in turn fell on Engine 1 as it passed the front of the church. Captain

Stan Shockley was in the process of reaching for the radio’s microphone, to give a report to the other arriving

fire companies. He was leaning forward, this is what saved his life. The stone blocks from the wall hit the

engine with such force that it blew out the front tires and put a V shaped dent in the roof of the Captain’s side of

the truck. He suffered a deep cut to his head and received 25 stitches. The other members of the crew escaped

injury. They were, Alvin White Chauffeur, Tammy Simon Firefighter, Lisa Simmons (Slagle) Firefighter. The next

day the write up in the newspaper mentioned the word miracle. (All photos provided by Stan Shockley)

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Top Left: Houston Fire Training Academy, Class 97B, Cadet Brian Battenfield, Kevin Scarber Firefighter. (Photo provided by Brian Battenfield)Top Right: Houston Fire Training Academy, Class 97B cadets from left to right, Jon Carter, Brian Scott, Brian Battenfield, Jose Garza. This cadet class started their training on January 12, 1998 and graduated on August 13, 1998. (Photo provided by Brian Battenfield)Bottom: Engine 28 was dedicated to Claude Jahnke, who worked at Fire House 28 from 1981 to 1984. From left to right Roland Chavez Chauffeur, Captain Jay Jahnke, Claude’s youngest son. This photo was taken on August 17, 1997. (Photo provided by the Jahnke family)

56 | The 1990s

Top: New arrivals of 1999 E-ONE ladder trucks and engines, posed with the crews at Fire House 1, with the City of Houston downtown skyline as the background.

(Photo by Matt Milam) Bottom: Engine 38 “D” Shift at a house fire. From left

to right, Charles Kimble Firefighter, Captain Clifton Wooten, Gary Franklin Firefighter, Bruce Strong

Chauffeur. Photo taken in 1995. (Photo provided by Charles Kimble)

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Top Left: Promotion ceremony for Fire Chief Lester Tyra. Left to right, Houston’s Mayor Lee Brown, Emily Tyra, wife, Lester Tyra, dad, Fire Chief Lester Tyra. The ceremony took place May 1998. Chief Tyra was Fire Chief from 1998 to 2000. (Photo by Matt Milam)Top Right: The District Chief rank and above have traditionally have worn a white uniform shirt. Lester Tyra, in his first year in office decided that he, and his command staff, would wear a blue uniform shirt. This is the color that is worn by all firefighters under the rank District Chief. Chief Tyra did this to help the rank and file identify with him. Lester was also the President of the Houston Professional Firefighters Association, Local 341 from July 1974 to July 1991. (Photo by Matt Milam, 1999)Bottom: 1998 Valor Awards Ceremony. From left to right, Fire Chief Lester Tyra, Kelly Miller Firefighter, recipient of the Medal of Valor, Sr. Captain James Miller, dad. (Photo by Matt Milam)

58 | The 1990s

When Fire House 1 opened in 1968 the Arson Division and Fire Prevention moved into the 4th floor. In late 1999

both divisions moved to a leased office building on 12th Street at Seamist. These photos were taken on moving day.

(All photos by Matt Milam)Top: Arson and Fire Prevention group shot. From left to right,

John Monnat Inspector, Roland Morgan Arson Investigator, Doug Duncan Inspector, Robert Castlebury Inspector, J. D.

Harris Sr. Inspector, John Bush Inspector, Robert Kent Sr. Arson Investigator, Chief Inspector Dan Pruitt, Chief Arson Investigator

Roy Paul, Fire Marsal Eddie Corral, Chief Inspector Perry Schindewolf, Leo Mays Inspector, Earnest Punch Inspector,

Bill Bivens Sr. Inspector, Dennis Ducket Sr. Arson Investigator, George Ward Arson investigator.

Bottom Left: Left to right, Chief Inspector Perry Schindewolf, Chief Inspector Dan Pruitt, Fire Marshal Eddie Corral.

Bottom Right: Roland Morgan Arson Investigator.

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Opposite: Fire House 1 located 410 Bagby Street at Preston Street. Built in 1968. This served as a fire house and headquarters for the HFD. This building took the place of the old Central Station 1300 Preston Street at Caroline Street, which was built in 1924. It served as a fire house, headquarters and a police station. This photo was taken shortly before the

fire house was closed, refer to page 72 for more information. (Photo by Matt Milam)