By Fousia Abdullahi
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
GRAPEVINE, Texas — A Grapevine-Colleyville school board member is raising concerns about Grapevine’s plan to reorganize fire and EMS equipment and personnel.
A.J. Pontillo wrote in a social media post Monday that city leaders need to consider how a proposal to shut down Station 1 could impact only the tourism and entertainment venues, but also schools like Cannon elementary, Silver Lake elementary and Grapevine middle.
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“I fully understand tight budgets and hard choices,” Pontillo wrote. “However, I don’t believe financial constraints should compromise the safety and security of our students, staff, or community. I’ll continue to engage thoughtfully, stay informed, and advocate for what’s best for GCISD.”
The city wants to shift more resources to EMS, which account for 71% of calls to the fire department. The plan would take Engine 1 out of service and add a “squad,” which is specialized unit used for high-risk fire rescue operations that also has the ability to provide EMS care. A consultant hired by the city in 2021 recommended the changes, including the need for a fourth ambulance.
A union representing firefighters is opposed to the plan. The Grapevine Professional Firefighters Association is advocating for more resources and personnel, not fewer
The union says it is concerned about the impact on fire emergency capabilities, especially at high-traffic locations such as Grapevine Mills and large hotels and entertainment venues including Great Wolf Lodge.
But city leaders including the fire chief say the reorganization plan — which has been in the works for years — is necessary to meet the needs of the growing city. They disagree that it poses any risks.
“We are strategically reallocating resources and strengthening minimum staffing to be more efficient stewards of public funds,” said a statement from the mayor and city manager.
In response to the city’s statement on Feb. 25, a union spokesperson told the Star-Telegram that they recognize that staff capacity matters.
“However, we do not agree that the current plan maintains the level of fire suppression staffing that nationally recognized standards call for in a growing community like Grapevine,” the spokesperson said. “Safe can be a difficult term because safety is relative to the amount of risk a community is willing to assume. Meeting a minimum threshold is not the same as maintaining best practice standards.”
The union is also said consultant’s study used data from 2019 that is now outdated.
“The city has grown, the population has increased, a lot of things have changed in the city since that report was compiled,” the spokesperson said. “Also, admittedly, the date that they used is incomplete. At the time we didn’t have the ability to be able to track effectively the amount of time that we were spending on calls. We’ve since upgraded our reporting software, we could get a much more accurate picture.”
Pontillo, the school board trustee, said he spoke to union members and “reached out to City Council members to share concerns about potential impacts on student and staff safety.” He also said he’s encouraging school employees to contact the fire chief and city leaders directly.
The union had asked residents to attend the March 3 city council meeting to speak out about the plan. Among those who attended, none spoke during a public comment session about the reallocation of fire department staff and the addition of a new ambulance.
In your department, have rising EMS call volumes led to changes in staffing or apparatus? What has worked — or not worked?
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