FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis has resigned, just weeks after being placed on paid administrative leave.
Multiple sources told CBS News Texas the move followed threats by the city’s firefighters association to hold a vote of no confidence in his leadership.
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Sources within the fire department said that the Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association’s concerns focused on how the MedStar merger was handled. One source described the process as rushed, saying, “We made it happen, but it wasn’t easy.”
Before the change, MedStar served Fort Worth and nearby communities as the EMS provider, overseeing ambulance and paramedic operations. It was incorporated into the Fort Worth Fire Department on July 1.
Sources said tensions grew after Davis announced in late August that all firefighters would be required to undergo driver training to serve on ambulances. Members of the association have long advocated for keeping firefighting duties separate from EMS.
Outside experts say assigning firefighters to ambulance duty greatly increases workload. The medical division fields 500–600 calls a day; on Oct. 15, the combined department handled 576.
After Davis was placed on paid leave, the city said the investigation would take a few weeks. Davis referred questions to his attorney, who hoped to release a statement later. The city declined to address the union’s concerns, and the association said it would not issue a formal statement, preferring to let the process “work itself out.”
Assistant Chief Raymond Hill has been named interim chief while the city searches for a permanent replacement. Davis’ last day with the department is Oct. 31.
What’s your take on Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis’s resignation and the issues behind it — should firefighters be required to handle ambulance duties after the MedStar merger?
