BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — The Leon Valley Fire Department and Bexar County Emergency Services District No. 4 are officially merging on Tuesday in an effort to reduce response times and retain personnel.
In 2007, a public vote established ESD 4 to provide first responder services to more than 40,000 residents in northwest Bexar County.
ESD 4 provides equipment and funding for Leon Springs Fire Department to operate.
“Over the years we were able to do things that the volunteer fire department couldn’t do because we’re a government entity,” said Ron Haygood, ESD 4 Commissioners President.
The collection of property and sales tax has led to recent major expenses including two new fire engines, three ambulances, a new ladder truck and purchase of property for a new fire station.
“As you know this area is exploding, going out I-10 it’s exploding all the way. And so we’re able to support this growing community. We’re trying to grow with it,” Haygood said.
Leon Springs Fire Chief Craig Ramon welcomes the merger with ESD 4 as a monumental step toward speeding up response times to emergency calls and ensuring the highest quality personnel stay with the department. He points to the financial incentives as well.
“Being an ESD vs a volunteer fire department, we get to participate in other retirement services that we could not as a volunteer fire department,” Ramon said. “With this growth we have the opportunity to only employ and be able to mandate that they be here for our emergency versus being at somebody else’s. That’s very important and critical to the mission that we provide to the citizens.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Grant Moody stressed how the 12 ESD’s play a vital role in providing emergency services across Bexar County.
In statement, Moody said: “ESD 4 and Leon Springs Fire Department have worked together for many years, and this merger, which creates ESD 4 Fire and Rescue, will improve first responder services to ESD 4’s service area. It will also allow for each fire station to be manned 24/7 by 5 personnel. This added level of first responder staffing will ensure that this extremely fast-growing part of Bexar County continues to receive excellent emergency services.”