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Fire union president: City needs more ambulances

The president of San Antonio’s firefighters association said his city is starting to feel the strain of only having 34 full-time rigs

By EMS1 Staff

SAN ANTONIO — President of a Texas firefighters’ union said city officials are putting residents in danger by not having enough ambulances to respond to calls.

KSAT reported that San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association President Christopher Steele said his department only has 34 full-time vehicles. His claim comes after Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief David Coatney said his department was under strain with only 40 full-time ambulances.

Steele said his city, which is bigger than Dallas, is feeling the stress.

“The city manager and the mayor, they’re decimating public safety,” Steele said.

Yvette Granato, deputy chief of San Antonio Fire Department Emergency Services, said shortages are rare and usually resolved in minutes. Granato also said two ambulances were added this year as well as two new stations.

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