10/07/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:
The Waxahachie Firefighters Association Local 3010 would like to publicly express our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to City Manager Ricky Boyd, Fire Administration, and the Waxahachie City Council for their leadership, commitment, and efforts that made last night’s historic decision possible.
Last night, the Waxahachie City Council unanimously approved an ordinance establishing four person staffing on all frontline fire apparatus responding to structure fires. This is somewhat like an amendment to the city charter requiring council vote to change it. While several significant decisions were made last night, including the relocation and construction of Station 1 and the approval of the SAFER Grant, which will allow Waxahachie Fire Rescue to hire 15 additional firefighters we believe the four person staffing ordinance deserves special recognition. This decision is historic. It represents a commitment not only to the men and women who answer the call, but to every citizen who may one day need us on the worst day of their lives.
We would especially like to recognize Mayor Billie Wallace, Mayor Pro Tem Travis Smith, Councilmember Tres Atkins, and Councilmember Patrick Souter for their vote in support of this ordinance and for recognizing the importance of putting the right number of firefighters on the scene when seconds matter most. We understand that councilman Chris Wright would have also made that same decision however was unable to attend last nights meeting. Four person staffing is about much more than putting an additional firefighter on a fire engine. It is about having enough firefighters to accomplish multiple life saving and firefighting tasks simultaneously. When a crew arrives at a structure fire, there are critical responsibilities that cannot simply wait for additional resources to arrive. Firefighters may need to locate and rescue occupants, establish water supply, stretch and advance hose lines, search for victims, ventilate the structure, protect exposures, manage the incident, and rapidly respond when conditions change. Four firefighters give us a stronger ability to do those things together, safely and effectively.
For the citizens of Waxahachie, four person staffing means a stronger initial response and greater capability during those critical first minutes of an emergency. For firefighters, it means stronger crew integrity, improved accountability, additional resources during high risk operations, and a greater ability to assist a firefighter who becomes injured, trapped, or otherwise needs immediate help. At the end of the day, this decision is about two things that should never be separated: Protecting the citizens of Waxahachie and protecting the firefighters who are entrusted with protecting them.
The members of Waxahachie Firefighters association local 3010 are incredibly grateful to have leaders who recognize that firefighter safety and public safety are one and the same.
To our City Manager, Fire Administration, Mayor and City Council, Thank you. Thank you for listening to our firefighters.
Thank you for recognizing the importance of this issue.
Thank you for having the courage to make a decision that will positively impact our department and our community for years to come. Most importantly, thank you for making sure our firefighters have a better opportunity to protect the citizens we serve and to return home safely to the people who love us at the end of every tour. Last night was more than the passage of an ordinance. It was an investment in the safety of Waxahachie. It was an investment in the future of Waxahachie Fire-Rescue and it was a commitment to the men and women who stand ready to answer the call.
From our members and their families, thank you for this monumental decision. We are proud to serve Waxahachie, and we are grateful for leaders who are willing to stand with us.
Sincerely your
Waxahachie Firefighters Association Local 3010
Proudly Serving Those Who Serve Waxahachie
