LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Lubbock Fire Rescue is touting the hard work of the men and women of the department in 2025. In its annual report, LFR highlighted its new station, equipment, and return on investment.
Fire crews responded to 27,435 emergencies last year. More than 70% of those calls were for rescues and medical emergencies. Firefighters quick response times in each of those cases helped it maintain its ISO Class-1 rating as one of the top departments in the nation.
Chief Richard Stewart said the department’s operations focus on keeping the people of Lubbock safe.
“Everything we do, whether it’s buying a station alerting or training, it’s to improve the safety of the citizens,” Stewart said.
Mayor Mark McBrayer believes it’s important for Lubbock to continue its investment into first responders, giving crews to be self-sufficient with the resources at hand.
“Lubbock is so isolated. You know, you live over in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, each one of them [fire departments] can specialize in water rescue, high-rise rescues,” McBrayer said. “Here in Lubbock, we have to provide it all because we can’t rely on Amarillo 2 hours away or Midland to come up here and help us.”
The 145-square-mile metropolitan area that Lubbock makes up only continues to grow. This led city leaders to build Fire Station 20, also known as, the Eric Hill Memorial Station. It’s located off of 141st Street and Indiana Avenue.
Stewart explains fire stations are placed strategically throughout the city, designed in a way to limit response times to five minutes or less.
The city also created Blocker 17. It’s a retired fire engine outfitted with new lights and signs meant to divert traffic away from working emergency personnel. Stewart said the measure honors Lieutenant Hill’s memory while protecting future first responders.
“I cannot imagine losing your son, especially in such a tragic way. But know that these things like the blocker and the helmet, those are in place now to protect us, future firefighters, and beyond,” Stewart said.
In 2025, LFR also welcomed in its largest class of recruits with 1,228 applications submitted to the department. Of them, the hiring committee pushed forward about 150 candidates. The department hired only 25.
Stewart believes the flooding of applications from all over the nation is not only a reflection on LFR but the city, as well.
“We have an outstanding reputation in the fire service and word gets out, and when it does people want to come and work here,” Stewart said.
The department’s ISO Class-1 rating places it among the top fire departments in the country. The rating helps keep home insurance costs down for residents.
“It’s a commitment,” Stewart said. “It shows that there’s a commitment and investment from the city that in turn saves the homeowners some insurance or some dollars on their insurance rates.”
The fire service reports its expansion and new dispatch fire system helped crews save more than $322 million worth of property in 2025. Based on the department’s allocated budget of $73,587,516, LFR estimates it had a 439% return on investment.
All of it, city and department leaders credit back to the work everyone in the department does. Stewart explains the work being done behind the scenes is just as important as the firefighters in the field.
“They’re dedicated, they’re committed to come out here and protect the community at a high level,” Stewart said.
The department plans to invest in storm generators for each station, equipment upgrades and infrastructure renovations.
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