The Houston Fire Department graduated 31 academy cadets in February, swelling its ranks to more than 4,000 firefighters.
Their first task? Picking up more than two dozen pieces of heavy – and costly – protective clothing and gear.
How costly? About $21,756. Per firefighter.
The clothing and equipment has to be able to withstand the most extreme temperatures while remaining durable for repeated use.
That’s why the bunker coat, for example, costs $1,400. And it’s not even close to the most expensive.
That would be the airpack, which comes in at $6,864. The actual air bottle that provides clean air in toxic spaces? That’s $1,293.
Following that is a $6,433 radio to communicate with fellow firefighters and a $2,500 thermal imaging camera to see through the smoke that captains usually carry.
Then there’s the $989 bunker pants and a helmet with a face shield that costs $563.
The boots alone come in at a little more than $400, according to the department’s most recently approved purchase last July. City Council OKed the purchase then of 256 pairs of ‘Haix Fire Eagle’ boots which were described as heat resistant, shock-absorbing, electrical shock resistant, with anti-slip foot protection. The total price tag: $111,360.
And don’t forget the sock hood, the undershirts, suspenders and gloves, as well as other gear such as flashlights or a lapel microphone.
“It’s warm,” probationary firefighter Chance Jackowski said as he put on the gear for a photographer. “But I’d rather have this on in a fire than anything else, you know?”
Firefighters are expected to be able to put on their outfits in under two and a half minutes. Jackowski said his record is about two minutes and three seconds.
“We can go to sleep, it’d be 3:00 in the morning, you might get a call to a high rise on fire or high rise investigation, you go from being dead asleep to full on adrenaline rush. It’s pretty intense,” Jackowski said with a laugh. “It’s why I like it.”
Receipts is a weekly spotlight on how the city of Houston and Harris County spend your tax money, with a focus on the everyday things most residents may take for granted. Got something you want us to look at? Email José at jose@houstonlanding.org.
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