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Austin Fire Chief seeks authority to run engines with three firefighters during staffing shortages
Summary
Fire Chief Joel G. Baker asked city council to give him limited authority to staff engines with three personnel when absences force overtime, arguing the change would avoid station blackouts while still meeting NFPA scene staffing recommendations; council pressed for data on frequency and operational impacts.
Fire Chief Joel G. Baker told the Austin City Council during its July 29 budget work session that he needs managerial flexibility to staff engines with three firefighters when staffing shortages make four-person engine staffing infeasible.
Baker said the department currently staffs apparatus to send about 32 personnel to a typical house fire, well above the National Fire Protection Association recommendation of 17. Under the proposed 4-on-trucks/3-on-engine model he described, the department would still be able to meet NFPA scene staffing guidance by sending roughly 24 personnel when some engines operate with three staff. "I'm not…
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