The accident happened just before 2:30am on I-45 at Edgebrook.
Firefighters say the engine was responding to an accident when the car slammed into it. The car's passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two of the four firefighters on the scene were also taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
All southbound lanes were shut down for several hours for the investigation.
The victim's identity has not been released.
HFD issued a statement Saturday afternoon: "It is always a sad event when a citizen dies, but we are fortunate that E-36 was there providing protection to the accident scene. Without that protection the fatalities could have been greater."
