City Council weighed the implications of significantly expanding benefits for emergency services employees this past Thursday in a resolution that calls for a new family leave policy for the city’s EMS, police, and fire departments. The resolution, sponsored by Council Member Ann Kitchen, directs city staff to develop plans for a program providing adequate paid […]
Austin Fire Department
firefighters who serve residents inside Austin city limits.
Posted inPublic Health
Equity study attempts to mitigate long-standing health disparities
A new report by a city-appointed firm found that local medical and emergency service providers could do more to help address sharp health disparities in East and West Austin. The equity study, which was completed this summer by Public Consulting Group, examined Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services and the Austin Fire Department with an eye toward […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
EMS union joins firefighters in opposing Prop A
The political action committee for the Austin EMS employees union has voted to join the Austin Firefighters Association PAC and AFSCME Local 1624, the civilian employees union, in opposing Proposition A on the November ballot. Save Austin Now, the PAC that gathered petitions to put the measure on the ballot, has estimated its yearly cost […]
Posted inEnvironment
Fire season may be winding down but officials urge Austinites to stay wary of wildfire
A winter freeze and a wet spring may not conjure concerns of wildfires, but fire officials say the combination of those events and forecasted weather patterns create an environment ripe for more significant blazes, including in residential areas not normally considered at risk. February’s winter storm increased the amount of leaf litter and plant debris […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Firefighters considering whether to oppose Prop A
Austin firefighters are considering whether to oppose Proposition A, a proposal on the Nov. 2 ballot that would require the city of Austin to spend between $54 million and $119 million more on police officers each year, according to Austin’s Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo. Opponents note that the likely result of such new […]
Posted inFire
Alter finds funding for more EMS, fire services
When City Council Member Alison Alter heard that the Loop 360/Davenport Fire and EMS Station would not be opening in Fiscal Year 2022 as planned, she thought of how savings from that station could be used to help the Austin Fire Department and Austin Travis County EMS. She laid out a plan for use of […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Public safety looms over city budget talks
The plea for more staff at Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services has reached City Council’s ears. The majority of Council members expressed a desire at Tuesday’s work session to increase that funding for next year, as requested by Selena Xie, EMS association president. However, that request, along with others, would probably fall by the wayside […]
Posted inEMS
Fire/EMS station construction on pace despite pandemic
In 2017, a service needs analysis of the Austin Fire Department led to the City Council-sanctioned creation of a six-year plan to construct and staff five fire/EMS stations in the areas of most need: Del Valle/Moore’s Crossing, Travis Country, Loop 360/Davenport, Goodnight Ranch and Canyon Creek/620. Last week, Richard Mendoza, the director of Public Works, […]
Posted inFire
Firefighters’ leader says department needs more funds
When City Manager Spencer Cronk presented the Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget to City Council last week, he noted that the new Loop 360 fire/EMS station would be opening in the coming fiscal year. According to the manager’s budget document, the new station would open in July 2022 and cost taxpayers $1.5 million for partial year […]
Posted inFire
Taking cues from audit, Austin continues to shore up its wildfire prevention strategy
Thanks to climate change, Austinites can expect to see more storms, floods and fires in their future. This week, City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee heard what steps the Fire Department has taken to address the threat of wildfires following a 2019 audit. That audit, which was released in October 2019, found that the city […]
Posted inCity Hall
Postmortem of winter storm raises many questions
While individuals and departments shone in their dedication to the city and its people during the cascade of calamities caused by Winter Storm Uri, City Manager Spencer Cronk still has a lot of questions to answer when he releases the much-anticipated after-action report. City Council gathered online Tuesday afternoon to hear from Cronk and leaders […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Firefighters push for passage of arbitration amendment with Proposition A
Most politically involved Austinites are thinking about Proposition B, the camping ban, or Proposition F, which would eliminate the current city manager form of government and create a “strong-mayor” system. But Austin firefighters are hoping voters will pay attention to and support Proposition A, their request for a binding arbitration amendment to the city charter. […]