A firefighter monument may soon stand in front of the Tomball Fire Department's station on Rudel Road. Chief Randy Parr said the department has raised all but about $5,000 for funding construction of the bronze statue.

Parr presented an update on the proposed monument to Tomball City Council at a Feb. 4 meeting.

"It will serve to honor the volunteers and people that have come through the organization and made it what it is today—all the folks that have come before us is what the goal is and to be there for future firefighters to walk up, look at and go, 'Yeah, that'll be me in a couple years,'" Parr said.

According to meeting documents, the department has raised approximately $34,500 of the $40,000 needed since the project launched in 2013. Funding has been provided by residents and businesses in the community, as city funds are not being used for the project, Parr said.

"We've been working on this for a little over five years now," he said.

Sculptor Shirley Scarpetta is working on the statue, Parr said. Scarpetta also designed the statue of former volunteer station agent Ken Walden, which is located at the Tomball Historic Depot Plaza.

Plans for the monument feature a 6-foot tall statue of a firefighter carrying a mask and axe and clothed in firefighter gear, a helmet and an airpack, according to meeting information. The statue will be mounted in front of the entrance to Station No. 1 and illuminated at night.

"Shirley has got a clay mockup. ... She's ready to take that to the foundry," Parr said during the meeting. "This could happen anytime within the next six to 12 months that we should be able to be finished with the project."

Interested community members can donate to the project by contacting Parr or Fire Marshal Joe Sykora directly or calling the Tomball Fire Department at 281-351-7101.

"It's designed to honor the firefighters that started the organization and then to be there to be an inspiration for the current and future firefighters," Parr said.