Introduction

The Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department (CFVFD) has a long and successful record for providing fire and emergency medical services to the citizens of northwest Harris County. From its beginnings in the late 1950's, the Cy-Fair VFD is now one of the largest, busiest volunteer Fire Departments in the United States, with over 15,000 emergency responses each year. CFVFD covers the 180-square mile area of Emergency Services District (ESD) #9 in northwest Harris County. Responding from 12 stations strategically located throughout the territory; the 300+ men and women of the Department are among the best-trained and equipped firefighters and EMT's in the nation.

The Beginning, 1955-1962

In the late 1950’s, the Cypress area was served by the Jersey Village, Houston, and Fairbanks Fire Departments. After a home was destroyed by fire due to a 20-minute response time by the first unit, the need for a closely located fire department became apparent. Recognizing the need, the Cypress Civic Club held a meeting to check into the Fairbanks Fire Department. In 1961, the Fairbanks Fire Department charter was changed to become the Cypress-Fairbanks Volunteer Fire Department. As fire coverage needs grew in the Cypress area, the department charter was again changed in 1962 to become the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department. The department went through another change in 1980 when an 80 sq mile section of Cy-Fair was charted as the Cypress-Creek Fire department. This area had 18,000 residents and 5000 homes. Sixteen men that were part of Cy-Fair became the Cypress Creek Fire department.

Communications

In the early days, the only means of communication was the telephone. Therefore, fire phones were placed in stores or in the member’s homes. When phones were placed in businesses, extensions were run from the business to a nearby home for nighttime calls. Fire fighter wives received most of the fire calls and would then make the necessary phone calls to locate the members to respond to the emergency. Fortunately, the department did not receive calls very often back then. Used radios came into the department in the late 1960’s and were placed in some of the apparatus. Base stations were run out of a member’s home who also had fire phones. In the early 1970’s, a few monitors were purchased to alert the members. As the number of calls increased, the base stations found it difficult to handle the call volume on a volunteer basis. In 1978, P.S.D.I. was contracted to handle the dispatching. P.S.D.I. dispatched until spring of 1981 when Total Security was awarded the contract. A backup system was set up in Station 6 with paid dispatchers. By late 1983, the system was relocated to Station 8 with paid Department dispatchers on a 24-hour schedule. Dispatch was relocated again to Station 9 and upgraded with newer style radios. All members were issued radio pagers to help the calls be properly dispatched. It was realized that we needed a structure that could sustain the abuse of a severe storm. The fire stations where dispatch had been housed were primarily sheet metal and brick fascia and would not hold up well in severe storms which could result in all loss of communications. The new state of the art center is now located at 9101 Wheatcross Drive near West Road. Again, the communication center was upgraded with newer style radios and screens. Many members now carry a combination pager handheld radio giving them real-time communication with dispatch in case of emergency.

Ambulance

In 1971, the need was justified for some type of additional first aid for the area. Graham Ambulance Service, located in Spring Branch, and the City of Houston were serving the community at this time.

A vehicle was purchased to be built-out as an equipment truck for first aid. A chassis was bought from Kitzman Chevrolet and taken to Koenig to have a box built on the back. Later the members added some stainless steel cabinets for extra equipment. The vehicle was housed at the Chief’s home since he was EMS-certified. There were not too many EMS-certified people in the Department then.

Cy-Fair VFD became involved in the ambulance business about 1980. Cameron Iron Works (now Wymann Gordon) purchased the first unit and donated it to the Department. The Department went on to purchase another used unit, a 1979 Ford module unit.

Later CFVFD purchased two new 1981 Ford van-type units for Station 5 and 10. In 1983, the Department bought the first Wheel Coach module. Additional units of this type were bought and have replaced some of the early units. With this fleet of ambulances, the EMS program grows stronger each year. Initially, the ambulances were staffed with all volunteer crews. Later, the two primary ambulances were manned with paid crews at nights. Now with the funding from Harris County ESD #9, 8 ambulances are staffed with paid crews 24 hours a day and these are staffed at the ALS level with Paramedics.

Fire Chiefs

The Department has had few Fire Chiefs in its 25 years The first Fire Chief was Chief John Morgan, who was also the first Board President. Charlie Radcliffe, a Houston firefighter, became Fire Chief around 1965. Chief Radcliffe served more years than any other Chiefs to date. In the late 1970’s he stepped down for one year to let Stanley Hubbard serve a one year term of office. In 1981 Jack Fry was elected Chief. In the spring of 1982, he and his Assistant Chief resigned. The Board of Directors appointed then-District Chief Harry Cull to finish this term. In 1983, Chief Cull was elected to serve his own term until the fall of 1985, when he resigned. His Assistant Chief, Glenn Gates, finished his term and continued to serve as Chief until 1990. Marc Hudson from station 3 was elected and served for one term 1990-1992. Chief J.C. Marshall from station 8 was elected in 1992 and served till 2002. Chief Joe Davis from station seven was elected and is the current Fire Chief.