The Corpus Christi Fire Department (CCFD) is a public safety organization dedicated to protecting the lives, property, and assets of the city. They provide a range of services including emergency medical services (EMS), fire suppression, technical rescue, and hazardous materials response. The department also focuses on fire prevention, public education, and enforcing fire codes.
Our department is ok at best. The promotional structure incentivizes those who just want to get off the ambulance so leadership positions by majority are those who do not have a positive attitude towards EMS. Many within the department do not prioritize training on even the most basic of skills where the basics are the most common fire ground mistakes we see here. We have administrative staff that are so far removed from the field that any positive feedback from crews on new tactics, techniques, or equipment are stifled and told to just make due with what you have on a routine basis. Our ambulance riders are driven into the ground by the high volume of EMS calls with the only avenue out is to promote or demote. All specialty stations are given preferential treatment and everyone else is left behind despite pulling the weight of the department. There is a lot of potential for our department to be great but the biggest challenge is changing the culture. A culture of laziness, complacency, and lack of initiative.
A great department to work for. The traditions behind this department are pretty unique. In that past few years there has been great improvements to how the department operates on all aspects. 90% of the firehouses and crews nail the “basics”, the ones who say others don’t are the “one finger pointed at someone while 3 point back at them” kinda people. I agree the medic units are busy, but no one is forced to stay in the department. Who ever wrote the first review is either a brand new guy who’s burnt out after a year or two, or an older guy who couldn’t promote and is now bitter (also more than likely a southside guy) Specialty stations are “treated better” because they handle more, train more, and are called upon for more than just the normal engine company. The leadership has become more involved in the field to the point our fire chief visits stations every Monday to drink coffee and talk with crews, answers questions and takes and acts on feedback given to him. To say the leadership is disconnected is a large leap from the truth unless that person is racked out by 9am and doesn’t give a damn to make anything better. Work environment and morale in my opinion are great. We’re given a lot of off time, the older stations are in decent condition(actually pretty cool when it comes to the old fire house feel) and newer ones still give that old traditional feel with the newest being pretty damn nice. 95% of the crews have that family connection, the other 5% are those you’d find at any department across the nation who just show up for a check. Resources and equipment I dropped a star based solely on the reserve medics and apparatus. Those things have done their time and are worn out, but we’ve been getting new apparatus like hot cakes and they’re pretty damn nice. All other resources and equipment are quality(spoiled brat on the first review has never had hand me downs growing up). I also dropped a star on staffing and schedule based on not being at 4 man staffing YET across the board (it’s coming shortly so I’m not worried about it) and because I’m biased on better schedules than 24/48. The department could go to a 48/96 or even the new “1323”, but it’s not a serious matter. If you’re a firefighter looking for the “big city” but also the “small town” vibe, the CCFD is the epitome of that. Awesome dept and awesome fireman here.
Rating Breakdown
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2 Reviews on “Corpus Christi Fire Department”
Our department is ok at best. The promotional structure incentivizes those who just want to get off the ambulance so leadership positions by majority are those who do not have a positive attitude towards EMS. Many within the department do not prioritize training on even the most basic of skills where the basics are the most common fire ground mistakes we see here. We have administrative staff that are so far removed from the field that any positive feedback from crews on new tactics, techniques, or equipment are stifled and told to just make due with what you have on a routine basis. Our ambulance riders are driven into the ground by the high volume of EMS calls with the only avenue out is to promote or demote. All specialty stations are given preferential treatment and everyone else is left behind despite pulling the weight of the department. There is a lot of potential for our department to be great but the biggest challenge is changing the culture. A culture of laziness, complacency, and lack of initiative.
A great department to work for. The traditions behind this department are pretty unique. In that past few years there has been great improvements to how the department operates on all aspects. 90% of the firehouses and crews nail the “basics”, the ones who say others don’t are the “one finger pointed at someone while 3 point back at them” kinda people. I agree the medic units are busy, but no one is forced to stay in the department. Who ever wrote the first review is either a brand new guy who’s burnt out after a year or two, or an older guy who couldn’t promote and is now bitter (also more than likely a southside guy) Specialty stations are “treated better” because they handle more, train more, and are called upon for more than just the normal engine company. The leadership has become more involved in the field to the point our fire chief visits stations every Monday to drink coffee and talk with crews, answers questions and takes and acts on feedback given to him. To say the leadership is disconnected is a large leap from the truth unless that person is racked out by 9am and doesn’t give a damn to make anything better. Work environment and morale in my opinion are great. We’re given a lot of off time, the older stations are in decent condition(actually pretty cool when it comes to the old fire house feel) and newer ones still give that old traditional feel with the newest being pretty damn nice. 95% of the crews have that family connection, the other 5% are those you’d find at any department across the nation who just show up for a check. Resources and equipment I dropped a star based solely on the reserve medics and apparatus. Those things have done their time and are worn out, but we’ve been getting new apparatus like hot cakes and they’re pretty damn nice. All other resources and equipment are quality(spoiled brat on the first review has never had hand me downs growing up). I also dropped a star on staffing and schedule based on not being at 4 man staffing YET across the board (it’s coming shortly so I’m not worried about it) and because I’m biased on better schedules than 24/48. The department could go to a 48/96 or even the new “1323”, but it’s not a serious matter. If you’re a firefighter looking for the “big city” but also the “small town” vibe, the CCFD is the epitome of that. Awesome dept and awesome fireman here.