$1.4 million of the city’s approved budget will be allocated to the SAFD needs assessment.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio City Council wants a better look at the San Antonio Fire Department and it just approved a new study to find out where more resources might be needed.
It’s a needs assessment and city leaders say it will evaluate the department’s staffing, equipment, facility and resource needs to make sure the entire city is covered effectively.
The average time the San Antonio Fire Department takes to respond to an emergency is 8 minutes and 45 seconds. Depending on the fire, anywhere from 15 to 44 fire personnel are on scene.
In the latest budget, the city approved $428.5 million in general funding. $1.4 million of that is now approved for the SAFD need assessment.
It was prompted by District 2 Councilmember Jalen Mckee Rodriguez, who in a statement wrote:
“This assessment will give us the data we need to invest wisely, identify gaps, and ensure that every neighborhood receives the highest standard of protection our firefighters are capable of. The initiative stems from long-standing community concerns about station coverage and response times.”
City staff says the study will be done over the next year and the results will help budget planning for the 2027 fiscal year.