In a shocking revelation, Austin Fire Chief Joel G. Baker has been accused of failing to deploy firefighters to assist flood victims in Kerrville County, Texas, on July 4.
The Austin Firefighters Association (AFA) has alleged that Chief Baker issued a standing order on June 6, effectively barring Austin firefighters from aiding in the rescue operations during the devastating Independence Day floods in Central Texas, as reported by the Austin Monitor.
The AFA has expressed its outrage at Chief Baker's refusal to deploy the firefighters to Kerr County, where flash floods wreaked havoc. The Association has termed this refusal as "absolutely outrageous" and an "egregious dereliction of duty." AFA President Bob Nicks has called for Chief Baker's removal, and an online vote of no confidence is scheduled to take place from July 15 to 17.
The Austin American-Statesman reported that there were two requests for assistance from the Austin Fire Department (AFD) on July 2 and July 3, both of which were denied. The AFA took to Facebook to express their disappointment, stating, "It brings the Austin Firefighters no pleasure to report to the community that the Austin Fire Chief DENIED the deployment of Austin firefighters to Kerrville until very late into the event (so today!)."
The AFA's statement further highlighted the expertise of the Austin Firefighter Special Operations teams in Hill Country swift water rescue, describing them as among the best in Texas. The Association expressed its outrage at Chief Baker's decision, stating, "It is absolutely outrageous that the Austin Fire Chief, Joel G. Baker, would not allow highly trained firefighters from Austin to respond to Kerrville. Because of this egregious dereliction of duty, LIVES WERE VERY LIKELY LOST BECAUSE OF CHIEF BAKERS DECISION!"
The AFA accused Chief Baker of prioritizing cost-saving over life-saving, despite the fact that the fire department is fully reimbursed by the state for deployments. The Association has called for accountability and transparency in the process of removing Chief Baker, stating, "The community deserves a fire chief who cares about the community as much as our firefighters, and that is simply not the case. Joel G. Baker must go!"
In response to the AFA's accusations, the Austin Fire Department (AFD) defended its decision, emphasizing the need to balance resources between assisting fellow Texans and ensuring sufficient resources for their own community, given the unpredictability of the weekend's storms and the risk of catastrophic flooding in their immediate area. The AFD stated that it had deployed three rescue swimmers on July 4 to perform water rescues in San Angelo, Kerrville, and Seguin, and additional personnel over the following days.
Chief Baker, the first black fire chief of Austin, Texas, oversees 49 stations and 1,200 employees. According to Fox 7, he has been an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion policies within the department, with a stated goal of increasing diversity at the Austin Fire Department.
The flash floods in Texas have claimed over 100 lives, with the majority of deaths occurring in Kerr County, where at least 84 people, including 28 children, lost their lives. Some people are still reported missing.
As reported by the Austin American-Statesman, an email obtained by the outlet revealed that the Austin Fire Department had suspended emergency deployments with the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System in a bid to save money.
AFA President Nicks claimed that he had tried to explain to Chief Baker that deployments do not cost money but bring money into the fire department, but the Chief was insistent on saving funds and did not understand that deployments are not financially taxing.
This controversy underscores the need for clear communication and understanding of financial processes within emergency services, as well as the paramount importance of prioritizing lives over cost-saving measures.
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