Harris County ESD 13

Our History

Harris County Emergency Service District 13 and Cypress Creek Fire Department have been jointly operational since November 1984 and officially merged in January 2019.

Harris County Emergency Services District 13 is a political subdivision of the State of Texas authorized by Article If, Section 48-3, of the Texas Constitution and governed by Chapter 775 of the Health and Safety Code to provide fire prevention and fire-fighting services. HCESD 13 is funded by property taxes based on appraisals by Harris County Appraisal District and collected by the Harris Tax Assessor Collector.

Cypress Creek Fire Department is a Public Protection Classification {PPC) ISO-rated Class 3 department that staffs trained, career and volunteer professionals. Cypress Creek Fire Department services approximately 80,000 residents within 33 square miles of unincorporated Harris County about 20 miles northwest of downtown Houston, Texas.

Monthly meetings are held the 4th Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the administrative office located in Cypress Creek FD Station 22, 11900 Cypress N. Houston Rd., Cypress, Texas 77429. Meeting dates may vary to accommodate holidays and special meetings may be scheduled as needed. Agendas for the items to be addressed at each meeting are posted on this website.

Timeline

1976

VFD created

1976

January 21, 1984

Voters approved the creation of Harris Rural Fire Prevention District #13.
At a rate of three cents per one hundred dollars ($.03/$100) valuation.
District Commissioners were appointed to serve by Harris County Commissioners Court

January 21, 1984

November 27, 1984

The District entered into an agreement with Cypress Creek Volunteer Fire Department to provide fire protection and prevention services within the common service areas in exchange for revenue provided by the District.

November 27, 1984

August 2001

Voters approve a tax rate increase from $.03/$100 to $.05/$100. Increased revenue was needed to fund the expansion plans of the Department due to the extensive real estate development within the boundaries of the District.

August 2001

October 2003

October 21, 2003, Harris County Commissioners Court approved the new designation, based on the Texas Legislature passed in September, 2003, changing Harris County Rural Fire Prevention District No. 13 to Harris County Emergency Services District No. 13.

October 2003

2008-2009

Two members of the Board of Fire Commissioners were elected in 2008 and three members in 2009 after their appointed terms expired.

2008-2009

May 14, 2011

Voters approved a proposition allowing the maximum tax rate of the District to increase from $.05/$100 to $.10/$100. In September 2011, the District adopted a tax rate of $.09/$100 for that year.

May 14, 2011

April 2016

District hires first career full-time firefighters.
Including: 3 District Chiefs, 6 Captains and 6 Engineer Operators.

April 2016

January 2017

District hires more career full-time firefighters.
Including: 3 Captains and 3 Engineer Operators.

January 2017

May 2017

A sales tax election was held to obtain 1% of available sales tax revenue in the territory. The election was unsuccessful.

May 2017

August 2017

The District adopted a maximum tax rate of $0.10/$100 for that year.

August 2017

2019

District hires 9 career full-time firefighters.
May - A second sales tax election was held to obtain 1% of available sales tax revenue in the territory. This election was successful.
Purchase land for future Station 25.

2019