The Austin American-Statesmen
AUSTIN, Texas — The city’s Public Safety Commission recommended Monday the creation of a plan that will identify areas in Austin in need of new fire stations and eventually reduce firefighters’ response times.
The recommendations are part of a resolution written by the Austin Firefighters Association and the Austin Fire Department. The commission unanimously approved the resolution at Monday’s meeting.
The department is currently asking firefighters to respond to at least 90 percent of their calls within 8 minutes. The clock starts when a call taker receives a 911 call and it stops when the first fire truck arrives to the scene.
However, only the firefighters in seven of the city’s 45 stations currently arrive within that 8-minute time frame, according to statistics from the past five years.
Bob Nicks, president of the Austin Firefighters Association Union and a battalion chief with the Austin Fire Department, said the lack of more fire stations combined with traffic congestion in the city are some of the factors keeping firefighters from meeting the 8-minute mark.
The city would need 16 new fire stations, Nicks said, and suggested the following five areas for them:
The area near the intersection of U.S. 290 and MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1).
The Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360) area near Westlake.
Good Night Ranch, which is southeast of the intersection between East Slaughter Lane and Interstate 35.
Moore’s Crossing, which is southeast of the Texas 130 and Texas 71 intersection.
Canyon Creek, an area near the intersection of Anderson Mill Rd and FM 620.
As part of the resolution, the commission is recommending the creation of an annual fire response analysis along with a comprehensive plan to build new stations that will be made available to the City Council every year.
“It’s not only about building fire stations, it’s about creating a methodology to reduce fire respose time,” Nicks said.
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