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Lucas interim fire chief reports rising calls, staffing need and a pre-hospital blood program
Summary
Interim Fire Chief Lasky reported 1,033 total calls in 2025 (396 fire, 535 EMS), described mutual-aid patterns and dispatch classification nuances, urged additional firefighter staffing to meet 2-in/2-out safety standards, and announced a partnership with Medical City McKinney to carry blood on ambulances.
Interim Fire Chief Lasky briefed the Lucas City Council on March 19 about departmental activity, staffing and equipment priorities, and new medical capabilities.
Lasky said Lucas recorded 396 fire responses and 535 EMS responses in 2025 for a combined total of 1,033 incidents; 2026 totals were also provided in the update. He explained mutual-aid arrangements with neighboring departments and described how CAD dispatching and incident classification can generate canceled responses or overlapping fire/EMS counts depending on how an incident is reported and whether it evolves into an EMS transport. "We responded out of town a total of 35 different times for fire incidents. But we received help from other people from our neighbors a total of 33 times," he said.
Lasky highlighted equipment and program developments: the department took delivery of a new ambulance (to replace an existing unit and move that unit into reserve), is finalizing a new pumper, and is developing an accessory building that will provide storage and hands-on training space. He described a planned pre-hospital blood initiative in partnership with Medical City McKinney that will place blood aboard Lucas ambulances; Lasky said fewer than 2% of U.S. EMS providers do this and that the program could increase survivability for severe bleeding events. "We're gonna be carrying blood on our ambulance...We are the first agency to partner with Medical City McKinney," he said.
On staffing, Lasky said the city does not need an additional station now because neighboring departments provide close coverage, but emphasized the immediate need for more personnel to meet 2-in/2-out operational safety requirements and to avoid being unable to initiate interior firefighting operations when short-staffed. "We don't need another firehouse...We do need more staffing," he said, adding that the department had moved to a 48/96 shift schedule to aid recruitment and mental health.
Councilors asked technical questions about how calls are recorded and how the department will implement the blood program; Lasky said the city performed a comprehensive compliance audit with no deficiencies and that grants and creative financing are being pursued to offset budget needs. Council thanked Lasky for the update and said they will consider staffing and budget implications as part of longer-term planning.
The council did not take action on staffing at the meeting; the discussion focused on planning and budget considerations for future decisions.
