Lacy-Lakeview to rely on Waco, Bellmead for fire protection after relieving volunteer firefighters

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Lacy-Lakeview to rely on Waco, Bellmead for fire protection after relieving

volunteer firefighters

By MIKE ANDERSON/Tribune-Herald staff writer

Lacy-Lakeview officials are looking to the Waco and Bellmead fire

departments for help after cutting ties with the city's volunteer fire

department.

During a special meeting Monday night, the Lacy-Lakeview City Council voted

to dissolve the volunteer unit, according to a press release issued by City

Manager Mike tti. The city sent a letter out to the department's

volunteers Wednesday, notifying them they were discharged, tti said.

The city reports having 19 volunteer firefighters, while one of the

volunteers said there were 21 members.

According to the letter, the council took the action because it " did not

perceive the leadership of the existing volunteer fire department was

working with the city staff or were willing to be accountable to the city in

the manner the council and the staff believe are necessary. " The letter went

on to say the department's " deteriorating relationship with the city was

simply not acceptable to the council. " The letter did not elaborate as to

what specific actions led to the decision.

Lacy-Lakeview City Attorney Deaconson said the city would rely on

agreements with the Waco and Bellmead fire departments to insure fire

protection is uninterrupted. Waco Fire Chief Jon Fasana said Waco and

Lacy-Lakeview signed a mutual aid agreement in September 2000, providing

each city would send firefighters and equipment if requested by the other

city. Fasana said if Lacy -Lakeview asks for fire-assistance, Waco will

dispatch an engine, and then the on-duty assistant fire chief will determine

if any additional units are needed.

Fasana said the assistance should not lead to a financial burden on the

department's budget.

" It really depends on the situation, " he said. " If they have a major

structure fire and need our assistance for a long period of time, we may

have to call in some of our off-duty people to work overtime, to maintain

full coverage over (Waco). Right now we are below budget, so it should not

be a problem. "

Bellmead Fire Chief Karl also said his department had also signed a

mutual aid agreement with Lacy-Lakeview.

It is unknown how long Lacy-Lakeview will be without a full contingent of

firefighters.

Dennis Stapleton, Lacy-Lakeview chief of police and fire services, said he

is in the process of shaping a new volunteer unit. He said he has about 15

volunteers so far. He said some of those volunteers are from the old

department. He added that old department volunteers are welcome to apply for

the new positions.

Ming, president of administration for the disbanded volunteer fire

department, said he was concerned for the safety of accident victim's

because the volunteers had also served as a first response unit, stabilizing

patients until an ambulance arrives. Stapleton said the city will rely on

Rural/Metro to stabilize accident victims.

" Rural/Metro typically beat our first-responders to the scene anyway, " he

said. " The volunteers are typically at home when the call comes in and it

takes them time to get to the scene. "

A paid employee of the city, Stapleton did not lose his job because of the

council's action.

Ming said he was taken by surprise by the council's action.

" I never heard that there was going to be a council meeting, " he said. " I

found out when one of the firefighters went down to the station around 8

p.m. and couldn't get in. He thought he had forgotten the code and called

another firefighter, who couldn't get in either. They called Chief

Stapleton, and he said it was locked and he would explain later. "

Deaconson said the city posted a notice of the meeting as required by the

Texas Open Meetings Act.

Terry Broome, training coordinator for the volunteer department, said he

disagreed with the council's assertion that the department leadership was

uncooperative.

" We had problems with the city council telling us we are not professional in

our demeanor to Chief Stapleton, " he said. " At the station and during

emergency situations we had always shown the utmost respect to Chief

Stapleton, as is appropriate.

" Now in budget meetings we would get involved in discussions. We have

firefighters here with many years experience in Lacy-Lakeview. And at those

meetings we would try to project our opinions based on how we knew

Lacy-Lakeview works. "

Deaconson said the city council will meet in August to discuss plans for a

restructured volunteer fire department.