PORT ARTHUR, Texas — There are plans in the works for the Port Arthur Fire Department to undergoing a significant transformation to meet the city's rapid growth that include new equipment, facilities and personnel to address the increasing demand for fire and emergency services in the city.
Interim Fire Chief Robert Havens, a Port Arthur native who has been with the department for 32 years, has seen the department's calls for service grow more than 10 fold. In the past 30 years the department has gone from handling 1,200 calls annually to approximately 15,000 calls per year he says
In October, the Port Arthur City Council approved nearly $3 million in equipment purchases to support the department's evolving needs. These investments include two new fire engines valued at $2.5 million, a compression machine for CPR, pickup trucks, and new radios.
"We're developing a plan right now to where we would grow out the department and provide additional services with additional personnel, additional equipment and additional facilities," Havens explained. The expansion goes beyond equipment, with plans to replace two fire stations already in motion, including the ongoing construction of a replacement for Station Three.
The department is also looking building a new station in the north end of the city, an area that has seen considerable growth over the past decade, according to Havens. To staff these new facilities, the fire department is actively recruiting.
"We've got about seven positions right now that are vacant," Havens noted. "We're going to have to add people every year for the next several years in order to get our manpower up."
Potential candidates interested in joining the Port Arthur Fire Department can submit their applications to Human Resources at Port Arthur City Hall before the January 10th deadline. The test is on January 18, 2025.
"I see a lot of good things happening, and it's good to be a part of that," Havens said, reflecting the department's optimistic outlook on its future and the city's continued growth.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.