Houston firefighters are in search of higher pay. It's part of a "firefighter pay initiative" launched by the firefighters' union. As we first told you last week, Houston firefighters want pay parity with the city's police. They're circulating petitions to try to get the parity issue on the November ballot so voters can decide. Firefighters began collecting signatures Saturday. The Houston firefighters association says it's about basic fairness. “We're both public safety employees; we both respond to the same kinds of calls. Firefighters of Houston put lives on (the) line every day,” said Marty Lancton, of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association.