A fellow firefighter sneaked into the room and started secretly taking his own images while Robert Acosta posed for them.
Walker, get out of here. Acosta remarked in jest.
Acosta had previously been the subject of some light teasing as a rookie on his first day of work.
Don’t miss the next big story
To receive the stories you need about the city you love every weekday morning, sign up for The Launchpad.
It was actually his second day on the job as a Houston firefighter.
Acosta is one of eighteen firemen who have graduated from a new program run by the Houston Fire service that aims to rehire firefighters who had left the service in the previous five years.
Under previous Mayor Sylvester Turner, the program arose from the tense relationship and protracted contract negotiations between the city and the firefighters union.
From Buffalo Bayou Partnership, a message
Visit Cistern Illuminated in Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern this holiday season to experience peace and quiet. Kelly O. Brien, a Houston-based artist and engineer, created a calming sequence of light and sound that transforms 221 concrete pillars above sparkling water.
To learn more about this special Houston holiday event, go to buffalobayou.org.
Houston Landing is grateful for its sponsors.Become one now.
According to Assistant Chief Michael Brown, the department was in a difficult situation as a result of the ongoing animosity. Morale was at an all-time low, and firefighters were departing, sometimes even before completing their training.
According to Brown, it’s not that they didn’t enjoy the Houston fire department.They simply couldn’t make ends meet with who we were and what we were paid at the time.
Acosta left the department in April 2023, after only a few years on the job to get closer to family in Arizona. He was a firefighter in Phoenix, but he claimed that the tools, language, and culture were different.
Acosta never missed a chance to visit on his regular journeys back to Houston because he missed the brothers at Station 19 in the Fifth Ward more than anything else.
“I was missing a second family here,” he added. Earlier this year, Acosta started asking his former captain if he could return, with the OK of his first family.
Passionate about Houston?
Join Houston Landing’s community of supporters and become our neighbor, assisting us in sharing the stories that are most important to you.You can contribute to local news that spurs change and builds our city for $7.13 per month or $75 per year.
According to Brown, one of the first things the department’s leadership looked at when new Fire Chief Thomas Mu oz took over was how to improve staffing and morale.
The one big first thing was to reach out to the people that left this fire department and see what, see how we failed them, Brown said.
In its favor, the city this year finally came to an agreement with the firefighter s union on a contract and a massive settlement for backpay.
Acosta heard about the back pay settlement while visiting his old stationhouse earlier this year. When he contacted the union about it, he heard talk of a program to bring firefighters back that could be on its way.
The new chief took over in mid-August, and the re-hire program was born a few weeks later. The first class of re-hired firefighters, including Acosta, began training on October 28.
In that first class, almost 70 former Houston firefighters applied to be rehired, said Brown.
The speedy process by which the rehire program came into existence required several issues to be worked out.
In addition to questions about re-entering the firefighters pension system, several applicants wondered whether they would have to start at the bottom of the pay scale or in rank. Eventually it was decided that returning firefighters would start over in rank, but would return to the pay they had when they left.
The department is working with potential returnees on updating certifications, and training is being tailored to the experience of the individuals going through the program, Brown said.
This first class did not have to repeat the full firefighter cadet training. Instead, they went through four weeks of re-acclimation classes.
They didn t treat us like cadets, but we were still trainees, Acosta said.
Every class that graduates from the Houston Fire Department s training program chooses a class motto. The first graduating class of re-hired firefighters went with: Reunited, reignited.
They re united with the family here in the HFD, and they ve reignited their passion to be an HFD firefighter, Brown said.
The class has an unofficial motto, as well, he said: Never quit twice.
Another class is set to start training in February.
For Acosta, it s good to be home.
I m just thankful for being where I m at and just don t want to take it for granted, he said.
A short time later, as he posed for photos, an alarm sounded. That s me, he said with an apologetic shrug.
Two minutes later, he was back on an HFD truck pulling out of the station.
Republish This Story
Republish our articles for free, online or in print.
Republish this article
This work is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Houston Fire Department opens door to rehiring former firefighters to bolster ranks
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
