HOUSTON, TX – Houston’s firefighter rehire program is being credited with saving lives following a critical fire incident. Chief Munoz highlighted the program, which he described as vital to the department’s efforts to restore staffing and operational capacity. “Just a little history. There’s what we call the rehire programs the mayor supported of getting firefighters had been in with us before,” Munoz said. “That person had been with us for three weeks now, and he was able to rip the door out.”
The rehire program, supported by Mayor Whitmire and facilitated by union negotiations, has allowed firefighters who previously left the department to return. “These were firefighters that worked for Houston,” Munoz stated. “They came back, and thanks to the union as well, and some of the contracts that were worked on, they were able to come back and just did a little bit retraining with them.”
Mayor Whitmire emphasized the program’s impact on morale and the department’s ability to address understaffing. “Obviously, we’re understaffed.” Whitmire said. “And cadet classes were not being filled until we reached a settlement.” The mayor noted that both recruitment and the rehire program have seen success, with improved conditions and benefits encouraging former firefighters to return.
IAFF Local 341 President Patrick “Marty” Lancton praised the program as unprecedented. “This is a first time ever a program that has never happened in the history of the Houston Fire Department,” he said. Lancton credited Mayor Whitmire and Chief Munoz for their leadership, adding, “We were able to put language in there that sent the message to everybody that had left HFD that it’s time to come back. And they did.”
Lancton pointed to the recent fire rescue as evidence of the program’s success, saying, “If we hadn’t had the firefighter that came back under the rehire program, I don’t know what would have happened this morning.” He emphasized that “seconds matter in this business,” highlighting the importance of experienced personnel in life-saving situations.
The program continues to garner support from city leaders and the community, with commitments to provide additional resources and ensure the safety of both first responders and citizens. “The leadership has morale at an all-time high,” Whitmire said. “We have more work to do, but things are working well.”
