The Fire Department gave an operational briefing that covered staffing totals, call volumes, new training equipment, station renovations, upcoming apparatus deliveries and a telemedicine triage pilot with Bell County communications designed to reduce nonemergency emergency responses.

Why this matters: The fire department's workload, staffing and response model affect emergency medical services, fire suppression capability and the city's ability to respond to major incidents. The telemedicine triage pilot could alter ambulance and fire-unit dispatch to nonemergent medical calls.

Staffing and calls

The department reported 146 authorized positions (130 operational, 16 administration), of which about 119 were currently on staff in apparatus roles and seven positions were in the training academy; 13 vacancies remain. For fiscal year 2025 the department ran 15,333 calls (about 43 calls per day) and roughly 51 responses per day (responses count every apparatus dispatched). Fire-related calls represented about 3% of calls; EMS/rescue accounted for roughly 55% of call volume.

New equipment and station projects

- A new vehicle fire training prop was recently installed for controlled live-fire training; staff emphasized safety controls and an emergency cut-off system for instructors.

- Station projects: Station 2 is under design with an expected remodel to enlarge living spaces, add an enclosed turnout-gear room and create a hardened safe room; Station 4 design work is in procurement; Station 7 design is at a 60% completion stage and will be built with capacity for growth and an engine to start. Staff said the designs plan for multiple sleeping rooms, decon/bunker-gear laundry and bay configuration to support future apparatus.

- Apparatus schedule: The department expects tender and wildland/squad apparatus in December and the first new engine in January, with additional engines scheduled later in the procurement cycle.

BrightSight/RightSite Health pilot

The department described a Bell County telemedicine triage program (referred to as RightSite Health/BrightSight) slated to begin with county cooperation: certain low-acuity medical calls could be routed, with caller consent, to an on-call ER physician via telemedicine rather than an in-person emergency response. Staff said the company has been used in San Antonio with reported success and estimated about 5–8% of current calls might qualify for telemedicine triage. Dispatch would transfer the caller to the telemedicine physician; if the physician determines an in-person response is needed, dispatch would revert to normal 911 response procedures.

Funding and liability

Staff said there would be no charge to the city for the pilot; patient billing depends on their insurance status and the physician's billing rules. Staff said if a patient declines the telemedicine option, normal 911 dispatch would occur; liability and operational control were described as managed through county communications and medical director guidance.

Community programs

The department reported Rescue Elves (a holiday giving program coordinated with school counselors and partner agencies) serves roughly 200–300 families annually and accepts donations (including Venmo and in-person contributions). The department also described junior fire cadet graduations and community preparedness events.

Ending

Council received the briefing; staff requested support for continued public-safety outreach and noted ongoing hiring and station projects. No formal action was taken at the workshop.