All the seats do not have to be filled when responding to certain types of calls. Each new firehouse does not need to be staffed at 100%. Then, instead of replacing that next big rig, do a rolling brown-out with the other stations picking up the slack. Probably save a couple million easily. The local private amulance services would gladly help repond if needed.

The FF can pickup the briskets and chili stuff before reporting for duty and they can still BBQ, workout, and play video games from the new lazy boy recliners and sleep while working those grueling 24 hour shifts.
The last Chief gets a lifetime retirement at age 49 and also gets another FF full time job.

Beakus, hope your memory is refreshed. If my elderly parents are ever in need of emergency medical attention, I hope a fire engine would go along with the ambulance, and they recieve quick and ADEQUATE amount of professional trained assistance. Keep up the good work VFD.

I can see where the first comments are coming from. After all we need to make our fire run trip to HEB every morning and hide behind the building so as not to be so obvious. And the bennies just keep on comming. I had one firefighter that was shopping at a pawn shop with a fire truck tell me that they just had to be somewhere. This comment will probally raise a few blood pressures but we all know better.

@beakus--the answer is simple! You never know what kind of call you are going on until you get there. Conditions on scene can change quickly.

If you are questioning things like a car accident and the passengers are needing an ambulance--there is more to car accidents than just needing ambulance assistance 1) the car's damage might have trapped someone in a vehicle and they need to be cut out (the ambulance doesnt house all of those big tools--they are on a fire truck) 2) if someone needs pulled out of a vehicle it often requires more than 2 individuals that are on an ambulance to pull them out. 3) almost everyone on the fire truck rotate on an ambulance as well--if there is more than one patient--then someone on the fire truck can go ahead and work on the other patient while waiting on transport 4) the ambulance tansports the patient but the firetruck stays to clean up the wreck 5) if the car ignites-the firetruck is already on scene--ETC ETC

If you are referring to a *only* a medical call--such as someone having a heart attack, seizure, etc...it can take more than the 2 people that are on an ambulance to assess the scene and load the patient. On an ambulance there is usually only 1 EMT-Basic and 1 paramedic...the basic would drive the medic to the hospital and the paramedic would be in the back helping the patient---sometimes the paramedic might need assistance in the back of the ambulance so someone from the firetruck will jump on the ambulance and proceed to the hospital to assist with the call.

If an ambulance shows up on scene alone and needs back up then they have to wait on a firetruck to assist--its easier to dispatch both units and call off the firetruck if assistance is not needed...then to wait on back-up in life threatening situations. Also, when paramedics are dispatched out--they never know what they are going to roll up on until they get there. Even if the call may not be *that bad* the condition *could* change on the way to the call which would require assistance--then again, it will be delayed if they both aren't dispatched.

Where are those tax dollars that suppose to rename UHV???? Why not use those funds.

Williams

Someone please refresh my memory. Why do we have a fire engine with fireman suited up in bunker gear going to the incident when there is a 911 call needing just an ambulance?