03/05/2026
Sad day for the citizens of Grapevine! Make sure you vote for the right candidates for city council and the mayor. Make sure their first priority is to protect the citizens with the proper tools.
Statement from the Grapevine Firefighters Association – Local 3113
The Grapevine Firefighters Association respectfully but strongly disagrees with the City’s continued reliance on the Fitch & Associates operational study to justify permanent structural changes to the fire department—particularly as emergency demand in Grapevine has increased nearly 20% since that data was collected.
Despite this increase in demand, the City is proposing to permanently close Engine 1—an all-hazards, paramedic-staffed apparatus—reducing response capability in one of the city’s busiest districts.
Emergency Demand Is Increasing
Since the data used in the Fitch study was compiled:
• Total emergency calls have increased 19.8%
• EMS calls have increased 13.1%
Nearly half of this growth involves non-EMS emergencies—fires, rescues, hazardous materials incidents, and major vehicle accidents.
All Grapevine fire apparatus are staffed with paramedics and provide Advanced Life Support care, often beginning life-saving treatment before an ambulance arrives.
Fire engines already play a critical role in both emergency medical response and fire suppression.
The Timeline Matters
• 2018 – A City study identified the need for a fourth ambulance.
• 2021 – Operational modeling presented to council used call volumes nearly 20% lower than today.
• 2026 – The City proposes closing Engine 1 despite significantly higher call volume.
Local 3113 supports adding a fourth ambulance. That need has been recognized for years.
However, expanding EMS capacity should strengthen emergency response—not reduce fire suppression capability while demand continues to grow.
Engine 1 Protects a High-Risk District
Engine 1 serves one of Grapevine’s most complex and high-occupancy areas, including:
• Historic Downtown
• Multiple schools
• A major trauma hospital
• Large hotel and resort properties
• Commuter rail service
• Major highway corridors
This district protects not only residents, but thousands of daily visitors to Grapevine’s historic, tourism, hospitality, and transportation centers.
Permanently closing Engine 1 removes an entire three-person suppression company from this high-risk area.
A two-person squad is not equivalent to a staffed engine company during a fire response.
Concerns With the Consulting Model
At the request of Local 3113, the International Association of Fire Fighters reviewed the operational study and identified concerns regarding how national response standards were applied.
Grapevine firefighters also spoke with the Fort Worth Firefighters Association regarding their city’s transition to assuming EMS services. According to Local 440, consulting recommendations during that transition did not fully account for the operational realities encountered during implementation.
Consulting models do not always capture the full realities firefighters face in the field. Public safety planning must be grounded in current data, operational experience, and nationally recognized standards.
Public safety planning must also account for the fact that Grapevine serves not only its resident population, but a significant daily visitor population drawn to its tourism, hospitality, and transportation infrastructure. Emergency service demand in cities like Grapevine is influenced by far more than residential population alone.
Our Position
We support growth.
We support EMS expansion.
We support responsible planning.
But reducing fire suppression capability in one of the city’s highest-risk districts while emergency demand continues to rise does not strengthen public safety.
Public safety decisions should reflect current data, real-world operational experience, and nationally recognized standards.
Grapevine deserves the standard—not the minimum.
