Friday, July 11, 2025
07/11/2025

Austin, Texas fire chief accused of refusing to send special rescue team to flood zone over $800K dispute with state

The Austin, Texas, fire chief is being accused of denying requests to send rescuers to Kerrville days before the catastrophic flooding — because of an $800,000 dispute with the state government.

“Highly trained swift water rescue teams” were requested by the state in last week before the floods. But Chief Joel G. Baker denied both requests, the union said, calling it “a dereliction of duty,” the Austin Firefighters Association said.

“Lives were very likely lost because of Chief Baker’s decision,” the union said.

The finger-pointing came after the capital city’s fire department issued a notice saying it wouldn’t deploy personnel outside of Austin because of a budget shortfall, including “something like $800,000 in outstanding reimbursements owed to AFD by the State of Texas,” according to KXAN-TV.

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