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Harlingen Fire Department highlights CERT training, ISO‑2 rating and equipment needs
Summary
Assistant Chief Daryl Loftus and Deputy Chief Joey Albritton reported on the department's staffing, training programs (including CERT and ARFF), a smoke-alarm campaign and an ISO rating move from 3 to 2, framing staffing and equipment needs for future capital planning. (249 characters)
Assistant Fire Chief Daryl Loftus and Deputy Chief Joey Albritton presented an overview of the Harlingen Fire Department's operations, training and recent accomplishments, stressing community partnerships and workforce readiness.
Loftus described the department's structure—three 24/48 shifts, eight fire stations and roughly 110 sworn personnel—and said the department provides a broad set of services from fire suppression to hazardous‑materials and technical rescue. "My name is Daryl Loftus, I serve as one of the assistant fire chiefs," he said at the start of the presentation.
Deputy Chief Joey Albritton reviewed training and specialized units, including ARFF (airport rescue/firefighting), trench rescue, confined-space and wildland/urban-interface teams. He highlighted a recent smoke‑alarm campaign that serviced 76 homes with 125 alarms and described collaboration with the Harlingen Rotary, Red Cross, county fire‑marshal's office and volunteer departments.
Budget and equipment: the department's annual budget is approximately $12,000,000, Loftus said, with roughly 90% devoted to salaries and benefits. He listed rough capital figures: a fire truck costs $1.2–$1.6 million on average and station construction costs are measured in millions (examples given: Station 6 estimate $2,000,000; Station 1 estimated at $2,500,000). The department reported an ISO rating improvement from 3 to 2 in 2023, which can lower insurance costs for policyholders.
Community training and outreach: Albritton described a FEMA-structured CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) curriculum the department is prepared to offer locally and encouraged commissioners to consider linking CERT to neighborhood-watch programs; he said the course is typically 20–30 hours and results in a certificate of completion.
Commissioners praised the department's outreach work, noted the department's role during recent floods and asked staff to provide scheduling and certification details for community CERT offerings. The department said it will provide more information to commission offices and the public on training dates and participation requirements.
The report was informational; no action was required.
