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About The Woodlands Fire Department
Department Overview
ISO Rating 1
The Woodlands Fire Department is an all-career Department with positions that include:
- Fire Chief
- Dispatchers
- Administrative Assistance
- Battalion Chief of Training.
- Customer Service Representative
- Shift Personnel
- Inspector
- Office Administrator
- Deputy Chiefs
- Part-Time Maintenance Techs
The Woodlands Fire Department has eight fire stations. There are five engine companies, four quints (ladders), one mini pumper, two brush pumpers and one Battalion Chief Unit in service. Other units include:
- Hazardous Material Unit
- Heavy Rescue Unit
- Reserve Engines
- Reserve Trucks
- Rescue Boats
The history of The Woodlands Fire Department begins with the early development of The Woodlands by Mitchell Energy. Paramedics were hired at the very beginning of development in the early 1970s, and the fire department was formed a short time later. The Woodlands Volunteer Fire Department was staffed by volunteers working at Mitchell Energy and was housed in a trailer located on Grogan’s Mill Road.
In January 1975, Bill Neill was hired as the first paid Fire Chief of the department. Chief Neill, Assistant Chief Allen Groda, three firefighters, three dispatchers and one clerk comprised the first full-time paid staff of The Woodlands Fire Department. With a growing community and fire department, additional trailers were added for firefighter quarters, office space and a shed for the pumpers and ambulance.
On September 6, 1980, the Public Safety Center at 9951 Grogan’s Mill Road was dedicated. The Woodlands Fire Department at last had a permanent new station. Central Fire Station was now home to a fire chief, two captains, nine firefighters, five dispatchers and one office manager. There were also 30 volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel.
Fire Chief Bill Neill left the department in the spring of 1981, and Steve Dossett was selected to replace him. Bruce Woods served as the next chief from 1989 to 1998. In 1995, under the leadership of Bruce Woods, the department received an ISO 4 rating. John Mullin became the fourth fire chief in October 1998. After heading the department for six years and improving the ISO rating to a 3, Chief Mullin returned to his hometown in Littleton, Colorado. In January 2005, Alan B. Benson took the office of Chief and retired in 2019. In December of 2019, The Woodlands Township hired Palmer Buck as Fire Chief.
The Woodlands Fire Department celebrated 40 years of service in 2014 with eight permanent fire stations and a total of 132 fully paid certified firefighters giving The Woodlands Fire Department a total of 159 members. The Emergency Training Center completed its fifth year of service and Fire Comm, the department’s emergency communications center, handled fire calls for The Woodlands and all of Montgomery County. The Woodlands achieved an ISO 1 rating at the end of 2013. Read more about ISO for The Woodlands Fire Department.
In January 1975, Bill Neill was hired as the first paid Fire Chief of the department. Chief Neill, Assistant Chief Allen Groda, three firefighters, three dispatchers and one clerk comprised the first full-time paid staff of The Woodlands Fire Department. With a growing community and fire department, additional trailers were added for firefighter quarters, office space and a shed for the pumpers and ambulance.
On September 6, 1980, the Public Safety Center at 9951 Grogan’s Mill Road was dedicated. The Woodlands Fire Department at last had a permanent new station. Central Fire Station was now home to a fire chief, two captains, nine firefighters, five dispatchers and one office manager. There were also 30 volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel.
Fire Chief Bill Neill left the department in the spring of 1981, and Steve Dossett was selected to replace him. Bruce Woods served as the next chief from 1989 to 1998. In 1995, under the leadership of Bruce Woods, the department received an ISO 4 rating. John Mullin became the fourth fire chief in October 1998. After heading the department for six years and improving the ISO rating to a 3, Chief Mullin returned to his hometown in Littleton, Colorado. In January 2005, Alan B. Benson took the office of Chief and retired in 2019. In December of 2019, The Woodlands Township hired Palmer Buck as Fire Chief.
The Woodlands Fire Department celebrated 40 years of service in 2014 with eight permanent fire stations and a total of 132 fully paid certified firefighters giving The Woodlands Fire Department a total of 159 members. The Emergency Training Center completed its fifth year of service and Fire Comm, the department’s emergency communications center, handled fire calls for The Woodlands and all of Montgomery County. The Woodlands achieved an ISO 1 rating at the end of 2013. Read more about ISO for The Woodlands Fire Department.