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Waco Fire Department highlights PFAS phase‑out, health initiatives and response metrics in 2024 review
Summary
Fire Chief Scott Walker presented the Waco Fire Department's 2024 accomplishments and 2025 priorities on Jan. 21, emphasizing firefighter health programs, elimination of PFAS‑containing foam from operations, adoption of two LUCAS CPR devices, fleet and radio improvements, and planning for expanded EMS and dispatch capabilities.
Chief Scott Walker delivered a 2024 review and outline of 2025 priorities for the Waco Fire Department at the Jan. 21 work session. Walker highlighted operational and personnel changes the department adopted in 2024 and described planned next steps.
Walker said the department integrated two LUCAS mechanical chest‑compression devices into emergency response and reported four patients achieved a return of spontaneous circulation prior to hospital arrival after use. Walker emphasized expanded firefighter health and wellness efforts: a health and wellness committee, a gross decontamination procedure for turnout gear after fires, expanded peer‑support follow‑up for high‑stress incidents, and access to FireStrong resources for mental‑health and family support.
The chief reported the department has eliminated PFAS‑containing firefighting foams from its operational model, including airport and hazmat response equipment, and noted that the airport operator still maintains PFAS foam in its suppression systems but is working on a transition plan. Walker linked the change to firefighter cancer risk and to a line‑of‑duty death at the airport that the Department and council said was likely related to PFAS exposure.
Walker reviewed activity measures: the department responded to roughly 13,596 emergency medical incidents in 2024 (about 65% of total responses) and 186 structure fires, both showing declines from 2023. He explained part of the EMS decline resulted from temporary AMR dispatch protocol changes that the department addressed with the ambulance provider. Walker reported response time performance measured against NFPA standards (90th‑percentile benchmarks): for fire response the department achieved 82% (goal 90%); EMS response rates were 76–77%.
Operational improvements include a 25‑year apparatus replacement plan, radio channel naming simplification to reduce communication errors, and steps to staff and equip the new Fire Station 15 on Ritchie Road (substantially complete) and to advance the relocation design for Station 4. Walker also described completion of a consultant assessment (Kramer Associates) to guide future staffing and facilities decisions.
Council praised the emphasis on public safety and asked about wildfire readiness and water drafting; Walker said staff will perform annual urban‑wildland interface surveys, pursue alternative water‑drafting sites and expand community education and mitigation programs. The presentation was informational; no formal action was taken during the work session.
