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Fire chief says ambulance availability and staffing have improved markedly; asks council to sustain investments
Summary
Fire Chief Rich Giusti told council the Bryan Fire Department has increased staffing and fleet, cut mutual‑aid dependence and reduced times when no ambulances were available from about 70 minutes/day in 2021 to roughly 7½ minutes/day, citing expanded MIH programs, new apparatus and grant funding.
Fire Chief Rich Giusti presented a data‑driven "state of the department" update on Nov. 11, highlighting staffing increases, improved ambulance availability and investments in training and equipment.
Giusti said staffing grew from about 144 to 173 personnel and the city added ambulances and engines, which, combined with programs such as Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) and the termination of an auto‑aid agreement with College Station, improved system reliability. He described a drop in daily periods with no ambulances available from roughly 70 minutes per day in 2021 to about 7.5 minutes per day more recently.
Giusti also detailed operational metrics: average ambulance response durations, unit‑hour utilization, grant proceeds (about $3.88 million) and investments in leadership development and firefighter health programs. He said the department is pursuing accreditation and long‑range planning.
Council members praised the improvements and asked about hiring, attrition, and comparisons with similar jurisdictions; Giusti said the department received hundreds of applicants and is holding interviews for a large incoming class.
Next steps: Chief Giusti said the department will continue recruitment, seek accreditation and bring implementation details for planned strategic studies back to council.
