03/13/2026
All Grapevine citizens need to read and understand the potential consequences of currently proposed city changes.
As your Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Trustee, and a member of the safety committee, one of my highest priorities is the safety and security of our students and staff.
This past weekend I met with the Grapevine Professional Firefighters Association to better understand the proposal to remove a fire company from Station 1 in North Grapevine to create a 4th medic unit, and the potential impact that decision could have on nearby campuses including Grapevine Middle School, Cannon Elementary School, and Silver Lake Elementary School.
When we talk about emergency response resources in this part of the city, we are also talking about the first responders who would arrive when our schools need help most.
A few things stood out immediately.
Adding a full-time 4th medic would only require three additional firefighters.
Yet the Grapevine Fire Department’s staffing level has not increased in more than 25 years.
Today the department operates with 90 firefighters total, 30 per shift, with 9 additional positions effectively filled through overtime funding.
Meanwhile, the demand for service has grown dramatically.
* Call volume has more than doubled over the past 25 years
* Since the 2018 staffing study alone, calls have increased nearly 20%
Another important fact many people may not realize:
Every Grapevine firefighter is cross-trained as an EMT or paramedic.
They already respond to both fire and medical emergencies.
Peak emergency response hours are between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., the exact hours when our schools are open and filled with students and staff.
That makes response time and available personnel especially critical for campuses across North Grapevine.
And this is where Station 1 becomes particularly important.
Station 1 is a double-company station serving North Grapevine, and last year Company 1 alone responded to or assisted on nearly 50% of the roughly 7,700 calls handled by the department.
Removing that company would reduce fire response capacity in one of the busiest areas of our city, including the area that serves several of our schools.
When we talk about emergency response coverage near campuses, we also have to consider the realities of worst-case scenarios, whether that is a serious medical emergency, a large fire, or a catastrophic natural disaster (think tornado) requiring rapid response and multiple units.
Those are moments when every second, and every available responder matters.
At the same time, Grapevine continues to grow.
Our city welcomes millions of visitors every year, while also adding high-density housing, hotels, and major attractions.
Reducing emergency response resources in a community experiencing that level of growth and tourism is a decision that deserves careful consideration.
There is also another question the public should be aware of.
Last October, step increases for our emergency personnel, firefighters and police, were frozen.
That raises a fair question for our community:
What level of priority is being placed on one of the most basic responsibilities of local government, the safety and security of its residents?
The need for a 4th medic unit may very well be real.
But many are asking why the solution would be to remove an existing fire company instead of simply adding the three firefighters needed to staff it.
Public safety should never require taking resources away from one critical area to support another, especially when those resources help protect our schools.
Our city has grown.
Our call volume has surged.
Our firefighters are responding more than ever.
The conversation now should be about how we strengthen public safety, not reduce it.
I appreciate the firefighters who took time away from their families to share these operational realities.
As these discussions continue, I welcome thoughtful input from our community. The safety of our students, staff, and residents is a shared responsibility, and it’s important that our community stays informed and engaged in conversations that shape the future of Grapevine and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.
