Residents Raise Concerns Over TX Department's Staffing

When a house caught fire last week in Galena Park, only one firefighter on scene was certified to enter the structure to conduct a search for victims, which and that has raised concern among residents. 

Former Galena Park Fire Capt. Heath Meredith said the fire department has deteriorated over the last few years.

“He went inside by himself, to my knowledge conditions got very bad, very quickly. Whenever someone’s property is on the line, when someone’s life is on the line, that is what we are there for and he did his job and it’s time for other people to do theirs and make sure we can go in as a team,” former Meredith told Click2Houston.

Galena Park Fire Chief Tom Ehlers contends the department is sufficiently staffed and they have addressed many concerns within the department.

During his tenure, Ehlers maintains the department has made many improvements including purchasing new equipment and ensuring they have the appropriate staffing levels. He acknowledged the city has had a lot of work to do, including hydrant and update repairs, and they are fixing issues as fast as possible.

Councilwoman Maricela Serna also expressed concerns for firefighters, saying she has fielded calls from concerned citizens and would like to see adequate funding for the fire department to accomplish their duties.