Missouri City Fire & Rescue Services

Missouri City's fire service began as an all-volunteer department on December 3, 1956, organized by city officials and a group of citizens. The department stayed volunteer-staffed until 1972, when it hired its first paid employee; over the following two decades more paid personnel were added to keep pace with growing call volume, and the department is now staffed entirely by career firefighters.

Today, Missouri City Fire and Rescue Services operates from six neighborhood fire stations and is led by roughly 78 members on an annual operating budget of more than $9 million. The department holds a Public Protection Class rating of 1/1Y, the highest classification awarded by the Insurance Services Office, effective since August 1, 2016 — a distinction shared by only 26 cities in Texas and 97 nationwide.

The department is led by Fire Chief Mario Partida, who oversees fire and EMS operations response, the city's emergency management program, training and professional development, and fire prevention/community risk reduction.

Missouri City hires entry-level firefighters through a civil service testing process. Candidates must already hold, at minimum, Basic Firefighter certification (Texas Commission on Fire Protection) and EMT-Basic certification (Texas DSHS) before applying, then complete an online HR application, sit for a written civil service exam, and pass a physical ability examination to be placed on a 12-month eligibility list.