I guess I did not realize how often they are used. I was recently in a fire off of 1960 and 290 and there was AFVD.I know all fire departments have reciprocity to help each other but it was only a two alarm fire. It really seems like they are wasting money.How do we get information as to how much they do and where?

I'd rather them be over staffed and over equipped. Are you kidding? If it's my familys life on the line, I don't care how much they spend.It's amazing this is even a topic of dissention.

@AtascaGuy :And reactions like that are how people in government can blow millions of water dollars. Unreal.Hey, if you don't mind blowing away money, I'll take some of yours

There's a difference between blowing money studying how eggplants have sex, and lifesaving personnel and equipment.And no, I am not giving away money. I pay my taxes....you can call DC and try to get it from there.

@AtascaGuy
I agree with you. Firefighters don't get paid enough as it is. A lot of them work second jobs to support their families. I want them available if I ever need them. I'd prefer they were well rested too. Not exhausted after working another job.We run out of a burning building. They run into it. I pray for the first responders everytime I hear their sirens.Police officers, firefighters & teachers need to make A LOT more money for everything they deal with on a daily basis, just my opinion.

@timbom The AVFD does have a lot of nice, new, modern equipment. The reason they have this equipment is because they are still "partly volunteer". Thus they do not have to "pay" firefighters. Volunteers run crew at night and on weekends. Paid firefighters run during the day M-F (because the volunteers work at regular jobs) and yes, they do sleep at the station! Not every station is manned at night but typically they have at least one crew on duty every night and weekend, and they have the choice as to where they will sleep (which station). They try to staff two trucks, but if they cannot, home-responders will man the second, third and fourth truck if needed. As a homeowner, I think it is WELL worth the $125.00 per year I pay to the ESD in taxes for FIRE and EMS protection. There is no waste... they wisely spend every dollar. Attend the ESD Board meeting held every month if you doubt that! That Board is comprised of your neighbors who also pay taxes out here! Oh, and the slide... yes that helps the firefighters and medics get to the truck faster and safer than the old poles they used to utilize, or running down the stairs a 2AM and risking an ankle sprain!

back to the OP, who does it call !?

I've driven by there and saw the slide that's in there..

LOL... good question, not sure? But imagine it would go to Harris County Dispatch and they would dispatch the on duty fire truck.

And or "Mutual aid" if necessary. Somebody mentioned that in an earlier post. That is an old Fire Dept. tradition... neighbors helping neighbors. We gladly assist our neighboring FD's and when we need them they help us!

True.

@niceguy
As a matter of fact we do. Several nights each week a crew of 4-6 volunteers and part time staff will stay at that station, as they did the one before it. We have at least one fully staffed truck 24/7 and many times two.

@timbom
Just to let you know, HCESD4 assesses an $.08/$100 of property valuation. So for a $200k home, your cost for fire and ambulance is $160. And what you get for that is three 24/7 ALS ambulances and one 24/7 fully staffed fire engine with a second one from 6am to 6pm seven days a week and many times at night as well. If you lived in any of our neighboring communities, your cost would be at least comparable if not higher. In fact, if you live to the south, you would pay twice as much to two different services.

@ginx It actually calls the dispatch center so that should the station be empty when you arrive with a problem, you can still get help from one of the other stations or another agency if we're unavailable.

@DaycareMom Yes ma'am, its a large, playground slide on steroids, specifically built for this application. We chose this mode of conveyance over a pole not because, as other have erroneously reported, OSHA has banned them, because they haven't, but because they are safer for our members. I have had two ankle injuries from folks coming downs stairs in a hurry, in route to a call. This way they get to sit down and get down quickly. Much quicker than the elevator, which matters a lot if you have the emergency.