By RICHARD W. RODRIGUEZRHOME
Fort Worth Star Telegram (Texas)
RHOME, Texas — The chief of the volunteer firefighters in this Wise County town confronted the City Council on Thursday night, saying it has put firefighters and residents in danger by freezing the Fire Department’s budget at a time of drought and wildfires.
Council members responded that the only funds that were frozen were those earmarked for equipment for two firetrucks donated by Fort Worth.
After a tense meeting, the council agreed that the Fire Department could spend its funds, including for the donated firetrucks, if Chief David Wood first submits a list of the required equipment.
“All we want is something to tell us what we need,” Mayor Pro Tem Toby Hines said. “We haven’t got that yet.”
For weeks, wildfires have raged over thousands of acres in North Texas, including in Wise County.
Rhome’s 17 volunteers answered 100 calls in November and December, accumulating 2,200 hours on the job, Wood said.
The department’s annual budget is about $127,000, according to information from the city. The city contributes $25,000 and the county $5,000. An additional $37,000 comes from donations, and $60,000 is left from previous payments by insurance companies for rescues.
Wood, fire chief since August, said he was told in November that he needed approval to spend any amount over $500.
In December, Wood said, the council froze the budget.
“As your volunteer fire chief, I will tell you it is a challenge to run a volunteer organization to begin with,” Wood told the five council members and Mayor Mark Lorance. “I will also tell you that without access to our budget monies, the continuation of daily operations will become almost impossible in the near future.”
After the meeting, Wood said: “We got what we needed. I’m just sorry we had to go through this to get it.”
Crystal White, whose home burned early Christmas morning, praised the firefighters.
“What would y’all do if your home went ablaze one night and you called the Fire Department and none of the volunteers would come because of the way you treated them?” she said.