Career

After 88 years of dedicated service by the Angleton Volunteer Fire Department (AFD), it was decided that it was time to expand our service by providing consistent daytime fire protection to our service area.

On May 3, 2016, with the support of the City Council and Fire Department Leadership, our first full-time Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) Certified Firefighter was hired. This position held the rank of Captain and covered daytime calls, Monday through Thursday 6 am to 5 pm.

Our daytime Captain, who transferred from our volunteer staff, quickly began working on policy and procedures to align with the requirements for AFD to gain recognition as a regulated fire department with TCFP, along with responding to calls and attending public relation events.

Our Fire Department Leadership along with the City Council quickly realized the benefit of having a full-time firefighter on staff. The comment was made by a member of the City Council, if one was good, then two would be better. On October 3, 2016, a second full time Firefighter was hired. We were pleased to be able to staff this position with one of our volunteers.

As time passed, our day crew became an asset to support the mission and duties of the Angleton Fire Department while keeping an eye on our response area while our dedicated volunteers were unavailable.

In 2017 The need was realized that to be compliant with TCFP 2 in – 2 out rule, City Council unanimously approved two additional Firefighter positions. In August of 2017 our day crew went from a two-man team to a four-man crew, three of which came from our volunteers and one coming to us from a neighboring Fire Department. With the additional staffing came more changes.

As time progressed the day crew evolved, the schedule changed from 4 day coverage to 5 day coverage. Duties were added such as apparatus maintenance, equipment maintenance, supply management, training coordinator for all members, to mention a few.

In April of 2019 one of the firefighter positions was reclassified to the rank of Lieutenant.

For the 2022 budget year, the City Council approved the addition of another Firefighter position, as a result, May of 2022 a fifth Firefighter was added to the crew making it five full time Firefighters.

The creation and evolution of the Day Crew has been exciting, challenging, and benefiting both personally and professionally for the entire fire department. Training for our volunteer staff evolved as well. The opportunity for our volunteers to become full- time firefighters was evident. We are excited to say that all our current day crew and all of our past day crew members were either members of our volunteer staff or attended the Angleton Basic Recruit Academy.

Due to the creation of our day crew, many of our members have gained opportunities in the fire service that they may not have otherwise had. We have had other members of our volunteer staff go on to become fulltime firefighters with other departments, we have had a member of our day crew accept a position as firefighter with a larger fire department and we have had other members of our day crew transition from Fire Suppression duties to Fire Prevention by following a path into a Fire Marshal’s Office.

Volunteering for your local fire department can be life changing.