The Pearland Fire Department is beginning its Strategic Planning process and needs your help! Complete the Fire Department’s Master Plan Survey to share your thoughts on what the Fire Department can do to move forward. The Master Plan will set forth a comprehensive vision and mission statement that provides the agency with a clear path into the future and identify the core values that embody how the agency’s members, individually and collectively, will carry out the agency’s mission.
Pearland FD was established in 1946 consisting of solely volunteers. The department operated this way until 2007 when the addition of full-time certified Firefighters were added. Currently, the department operates 3 fully staffed Fire Stations- staffing consisting of 2 engines, 1 ladder, 5 ambulances, 1 EMS Captain, and 1 Battalion Chief on duty daily to cover the estimated 9,000 calls within the 69 square miles of City Limits and ETJ. Staffing of apparatus/ambulances consists of full-time personnel augmented by part-time employees and volunteers. The fourth staffed station, located at the corner of Yost and Broadway, is estimated for completion in March 2015. The department has seen a 64 percent increase in call volume over the last several years and that is not expected to change for many years due to the rapid growth of our city.
Throughout our Strategic Planning process, the PFD will use various methods, including surveys, to determine the emergency needs of the city. The surveys will encompass Fire, EMS, Inspections, Investigation, and emergency management needs over the next 5 years. Please assist us by providing input via the survey questions attached with this informational.
Background:
The City of Pearland is the largest City (by population) in Brazoria County and for the third consecutive year, Pearland is ranked the fastest growing among Texas’ 50 largest retail markets, according the Texas Retail Survey, which ranks cities based on annual retail sales growth rate for the previous five years. Pearland has experienced a 142 percent growth in the last ten years (Source: city-data.com) within its 47.6 square miles.
Pearland is a culturally diverse city of 106,500 residents in January of 2014, within the fourth largest Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (Source: U.S. Census and City of Pearland building permits). Pearland’s success is attributed to an involved community and established city council goals of a well-planned community, safest city in area, strong local economy, responsible city government, livable neighborhoods and mobility for the people. The City will continue to develop at an accelerated rate as both residential and commercial developers pursue this prime suburban location adjacent to the City of Houston.
Continuous explosive growth places tremendous strain on the City’s infrastructure and services. The financial needs to meet these stresses are staggering and Community Development programs are planned and considered for the future. The City‘s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) population is estimated at 26,900 and covers 21.4 square miles. Because this is outside of the corporate city limit, residents do not contribute to the ad valorum tax base, but PFD serves as their primary fire service/EMS provider. These infrastructure and economic development needs burden the ability of the Fire Department to provide standard services. Rural fire operations are still necessary as 45 percent of this suburban jurisdiction and the adjacent communities do not have public fire hydrants.
Major transportation routes that impact fire service delivery include the major highways and railways. The Texas Highway 288 corridor is the main traffic artery from southern Brazoria County into the City of Houston with daily volumes of 70,000 cars. Texas Highway 35 and Texas Highway 6 are vital routes from the Gulf Coast carrying large quantities of traffic prompting commercial, industrial and residential development. Three railroad right-of-ways with an average of 54 trains per day carry hazardous materials through the area (according to BNSF Railroad). Two of these railways dissect the city causing delays in responses due to blocked intersections. With this growth, strategic planning is imperative to ensure emergency preparedness within the City.
