https://www.fireengineering.com/technical-rescue/water-rescue/austin-tx-fire-union-rips-chief-over-refusal-to-deploy-amid-deadly-floods/ Austin (TX) Fire Union Rips Chief Over Refusal to Deploy Amid Deadly Floods

I understand that there is a responsibility to ensure that Austin is safe first, but surely it could have spared some of its 1,200+ employees for a short period. Even a dozen or two could have potentially saved lives especially if deployed on JULY 2nd as the firefighters claim.

I think the chief will likely be gone regardless of if he had a "good" reason to deny deployments.

I wonder if he received an order from his superior

There has to be more to this story.

If there was such a significant concern of catastrophic flooding TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE that would warrant deployment of personnel from a department more than 100 miles away, then why was everyone caught by surprise and the loss of life so great? You would think people would notice such a dire, life-threatening forecast and take appropriate protective measures. It seems more like there's a beef between the union and the chief and the union is taking advantage of what happened to score political points.

I think there's gotta be more to this story as well. I don't think this is likely akin to the LAFD where they prioritized lesbians of color diversity etc.

The heavy rainfall also moved east after hitting Kerrville for a couple of days: flooding up in Georgetown etc. followed. Austin might have needed all resources on-hand for that, plus all the water pouring into/thru the lakes around town.

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If there was such a significant concern of catastrophic flooding TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE that would warrant deployment of personnel from a department more than 100 miles away, then why was everyone caught by surprise and the loss of life so great?

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So, you knew two days in advance that this was going to happen?

Why didn't you tell someone?

Not a good look for him or Austin FD.

Edit after reading his response:

Austin is a dump. Things like this are expected.

It sure looks like the union has come out guns a-blazing. Would be interesting to see how many of the AFD folks were "saved back for local duty just in case" and then ended up being deployed within Travis and some of the outlying/adjacent areas, especially Saturday night. Liberty Hill, Jonestown, Georgetown, etc. all had some significant flooding. Didn't hear quite so much about it with all the Kerrville area stuff preceding it. Still they wouldn't have been "that far away" if needed but that would cause a time lag in travel. I'm sure that is the argument you will see from the politicos; we had to be ready locally and they were used there.

I would imagine that police and fire departments put different weight on weather warnings than the average person does. And Austin has a large area that Hill Country rain could affect, vs. some of the smaller communities that often see rain go around them. When that weather warning went out, I would imagine they were watching.

And while those rains affected the Austin area, there might have been a window in the first 12-24 hours where Austin firefighters could have helped in the initial rescue efforts, then gone back to Austin as the water made its way down.

Would like to know how many AFD and ATCEMS folks are members of Texas Task Force 1,2 and especially 3 as they were called up first.

Response

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-fire-chief-defends-response-after-accusations-of-delaying-help-for-kerr-county-flooding/amp/

Read a few articles about it and watched a couple interviews. The chief genuinely seems like he was in the dark about the early requests or he's a great liar. Makes me wonder if this is a setup and hatchet job.

rocky the dog said:

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If there was such a significant concern of catastrophic flooding TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE that would warrant deployment of personnel from a department more than 100 miles away, then why was everyone caught by surprise and the loss of life so great?

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So, you knew two days in advance that this was going to happen?

Why didn't you tell someone?

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That's not at all what he said. He said it's unbelievable that Austin FD had the two days' notice when nobody else did.

Think how many homeless would have died if the downtown fire department wasn't there to make their every thirty minute run to prevent an OD death.

This excerpt from the article sheds some light on things. Not a good look for any agency involved. So the state requested Task Force members who were forced to decline due to department policy? Why isn't AFD being reimbursed and why place such a standing order in place?




Nicks, meanwhile, told KXAN he is aware of some AFD personnel who were contacted by the state on July 2, but those personnel turned down the request to deploy due to a previous "standing order" from leadership, sent through email. KXAN reviewed the email, which was dated June 6 and sent from an AFD Division Chief of Homeland Security and Special Operations. The email said the department was suspending deployments through October 1.

It stated, "The City is facing a budget crisis, and there is currently something like $800,000 in outstanding reimbursements owed to AFD by the State of Texas. The City wants to make sure this money is reimbursed before the end of the fiscal year, and does not want to be in a situation where additional money is expended on deployments and is not recouped before the end of the fiscal year."

Meanwhile, from 450 miles away...

https://www.amarillo.com/story/news/2025/07/07/amarillo-fire-dept-deploys-team-to-central-texas-devastated-by-floods-over-fourth-of-july-weekend/84491101007/

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The Amarillo Fire Department (AFD) has deployed Engine 41 and four firefighters as part of a TIFMAS (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System) All-Hazards assignment in response to the widespread devastation impacting Central Texas.

The deployment, which began Sunday, July 6, is part of a coordinated effort to assist with critical search, rescue, recovery, and cleanup operations in the disaster-stricken region, AFD said in the announcement issued Monday, July 7: "The affected communities have endured significant hardship, and AFD stands ready to offer support during this difficult time."...

AFD said personnel are expected to serve for up to two weeks, with the possibility of a crew swap depending on the ongoing needs of the mission.

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Also, to be fair, far north Austin, Leander, Liberty Hill, and Georgetown were also hit by double digit local rain and severe flooding and there are a couple of dozen dead and missing, it just isn't making the news.

aggiedent said:

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Read a few articles about it and watched a couple interviews. The chief genuinely seems like he was in the dark about the early requests or he's a great liar. Makes me wonder if this is a setup and hatchet job.

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You also have a story that is being pushed by a union that has a contract that ends at the end of September, and a city that is owed $800K from the state for prior deployments and hasn't been paid. But, this can also be due to incompetence, which is often the case when the government is involved.

AFD has always assisted when called upon. Swift water calls from Austin to Louisiana. Wildland firefighting crews to west Texas all the way to California. Many went to NY after 911 for search.

If they didn't go it's because he didn't allow it. Yes they are some of the best in Texas operating in dangerous water. Numerous serve on Texas Taskforce 1.

ts5641 said:

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Not a good look for him or Austin FD.

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Hes DEI

MouthBQ98 said:

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Also, to be fair, far north Austin, Leander, Liberty Hill, and Georgetown were also hit by double digit local rain and severe flooding and there are a couple of dozen dead and missing, it just isn't making the news.

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Those towns also have fire departments

samurai_science said:

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MouthBQ98 said:

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Also, to be fair, far north Austin, Leander, Liberty Hill, and Georgetown were also hit by double digit local rain and severe flooding and there are a couple of dozen dead and missing, it just isn't making the news.

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Those towns also have fire departments

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I live in Georgetown and we didn't seem to have any problems at all with a lack of first responders last weekend.

And yes, we have a very well staffed and professional police force and fire department. Same is true for Leander and LH, and WilCo. Large DPS presence as well.

That's good to know.,,I know the media is largely focused on the Guadalupe.

Urban Ag said:

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samurai_science said:

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MouthBQ98 said:

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Also, to be fair, far north Austin, Leander, Liberty Hill, and Georgetown were also hit by double digit local rain and severe flooding and there are a couple of dozen dead and missing, it just isn't making the news.

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Those towns also have fire departments

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I live in Georgetown and we didn't seem to have any problems at all with a lack of first responders last weekend.

And yes, we have a very well staffed and professional police force and fire department. Same is true for Leander and LH, and WilCo. Large DPS presence as well.

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I want Paul Harvey to come on and give me the rest of the story. I am the last one to defend pretty much anything when it comes to the city of Austin, but we got rocked this weekend too. It would not be unreasonable to hold back the swift water teams when they were being used locally already (because they were). The stories coming out of Jonestown are incredible.

No doubt that CP, Liberty Hill, and Leander have professional first responders that were ready. That doesn't mean they have the same resources or training of a much larger department that I am sure it coordinates with.

There is much more to this story and it's a rough look for their union.

The City of Austin is in the middle of a massive budget crisis. All departments, including public safety, are over a month into severe cuts.

The cost burden for state requested resources is initially placed on the city/agency. Historically, AFD could afford to use City money to cover later state reimbursement. However, there is no city money available and the state still hasn't paid what it owes from previous reimbursement.

The union is angry because overtime is at a low and these deployments are big money generators for personnel who deploy. Denying the deployment may have cost lives (their argument t) but for certain cost someone a great check.

Austin EMS sent 3 boat teams and a bus. They've also been shutting down 3-5 ambulances daily for over a month to cut costs. They planned ahead for action while Austin Fire has been resistant.

It's ultimately the fault of Austin City Council for passing the largest budget in city history without having the money to fund it. There's also fault with the State for not reimbursing their debts quicker. The union should be angry that their personnel, who are among the best, didn't get to go immediately. However, they need to more honest about their grievances.

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If there was such a significant concern of catastrophic flooding TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE that would warrant deployment of personnel from a department more than 100 miles away, then why was everyone caught by surprise and the loss of life so great?

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TEEX deployed teams on Wednesday.

Due to a standing order by fire chief Baker no deployments were allowed until October 1st. From what I heard he was told about the flooding but did not allow the deployment of fire fighters in fear of not getting reimbursed by the state. While not 100% his fault he could have dealt with the city/state after doing what they could do help.

Maybe its because I have family and friends that are fire fighters but I cannot trust or respect someone that openly stated they will make it a priority to hire more minorities over more qualified white males. Baker wanted to have fire stations staffed by people that were more similar in color to the neighborhoods they worked in. Baker did not have the respect of the union or association well before this for a reason

The surprise was the magnitude.

It's one thing to know there is a flash flood potential and another to know it will be 30 feet high.

Initially I second guessed the response from the people along the river, but I have since tried to put myself in their shoes with the info they had at the time and not the info we have now and my thoughts became much more humble.

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The City of Austin is in the middle of a massive budget crisis. All departments, including public safety, are over a month into severe cuts.

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That is a shock!

A city government made up of socialists and racists being in the middle of a massive budget crisis? I've never heard of such a thing.

Then, the usual method to solve that is to cut the budgets of the most critical services. You DID say all "all departments" which leaves open the interpretation of what percentages of each department.

I'd apologize for the cynicism except it tends to be historically correct. However, I'm not an Austin citizen, thankfully.

HTownAg98 said:

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aggiedent said:

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Read a few articles about it and watched a couple interviews. The chief genuinely seems like he was in the dark about the early requests or he's a great liar. Makes me wonder if this is a setup and hatchet job.

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You also have a story that is being pushed by a union that has a contract that ends at the end of September, and a city that is owed $800K from the state for prior deployments and hasn't been paid. But, this can also be due to incompetence, which is often the case when the government is involved.

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"The City is facing a budget crisis, and there is currently something like $800,000 in outstanding reimbursements owed to AFD by the State of Texas. The City wants to make sure this money is reimbursed before the end of the fiscal year, and does not want to be in a situation where additional money is expended on deployments and is not recouped before the end of the fiscal year."

It is the state's fault... It is Trump's fault... It is the Republican's fault. Shameless.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-fire-chief-defends-response-after-accusations-of-delaying-help-for-kerr-county-flooding/

Urban Ag said:

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samurai_science said:

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MouthBQ98 said:

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Also, to be fair, far north Austin, Leander, Liberty Hill, and Georgetown were also hit by double digit local rain and severe flooding and there are a couple of dozen dead and missing, it just isn't making the news.

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Those towns also have fire departments

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I live in Georgetown and we didn't seem to have any problems at all with a lack of first responders last weekend.

And yes, we have a very well staffed and professional police force and fire department. Same is true for Leander and LH, and WilCo. Large DPS presence as well.

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Some places are run by DEI Democrats with no accountability and some are not.

First off, the level of emergency response in WilCo was nowhere near what it was like in other parts of the Hill County. That's not to disparage those that responded, as they did quite well. The rescue swimmers and the like in Austin are some of the best trained in the entire state, and they get called on for rescues all the time. The question is this time why they weren't allowed to go. The simple reason could be that people anticipated that they would be needed here.

The approved budget for 24-25 for just the fire department was $262,205,476 with 1,303 Full time firefighters/medics. The entire city has an approved budget of $5,934,847,000.

But $800,000 was the line in the sand.

HTownAg98 said:

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First off, the level of emergency response in WilCo was nowhere near what it was like in other parts of the Hill County. That's not to disparage those that responded, as they did quite well. The rescue swimmers and the like in Austin are some of the best trained in the entire state, and they get called on for rescues all the time. The question is this time why they weren't allowed to go. The simple reason could be that people anticipated that they would be needed here.

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Thats fine, and Austin is apparently okay with DEI hires "anticipating" those needs. It does sound like the actual firefighters are not okay with it though.