TEXAS — Rising fuel costs are affecting more than drivers at the pump. Some Texas fire departments say higher diesel prices are creating new budget challenges as they work to keep emergency vehicles on the road while maintaining the same level of service.
In Flower Mound, Fire Chief Paul Henley said the department relies on diesel-powered fire engines and other heavy apparatus to respond to emergencies every day.
“Costs are going up, and if they continue to go up with what’s going on in the world, we have to be aware of that and forecast that,” Henley said.
Alex Jacquez, the senior vice president of policy and advocacy at Groundwork Collaborative, said global events have contributed to higher diesel prices in recent weeks.
“The price of diesel has increased more than a dollar on average since before the Iran war,” Jacquez said. “For fire trucks, if you’re paying a dollar more per gallon in diesel, that adds up. These trucks only get about 8 to 12 miles per gallon, they’re constantly filling them up, and that’s going to affect costs elsewhere when you see these energy spikes.”
Henley said Flower Mound purchases fuel in bulk and budgets for those expenses each year, but rising diesel costs still put additional pressure on the town’s finances.
“It’s a significant cost,” Henley said. “In our budget this year, we’re about 14% up.”
To help offset higher operating costs, the department is looking for ways to make training more efficient without reducing emergency readiness. Henley said firefighters are traveling to training exercises together and using fewer vehicles when possible.
“We have varying strategies on how to reduce training and how we can make it more efficient,” he said.
Fleet officials also say it’s not just diesel they’re monitoring. Other products tied to vehicle operations — including lubricants, diesel exhaust fluid and tires — can also become more expensive when fuel prices increase.
Despite the added financial pressure, Henley said residents should not expect any changes in emergency response.
“We’re going to make sure emergency services do not suffer,” he said. “When you call the police department or the fire department, we’re going to be there with enough personnel to do what we have to do.”