Firefighters responded to a grease fire Monday, July 27, 2026, at a west Fort Worth apartment complex. The blaze was brought under control in less than 15 minutes and no injuries were reported.
Glen E Ellman
Fort Worth Fire Department via Facebook
On Wednesday, Aug. 19, the Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association is set to return to the bargaining table with the city after the union declared an impasse in July over “critical safety issues” and a failure to negotiate in good faith.
According to the city, the union is proposing a contract that would cost $152 million over four years. That price tag would “significantly increase costs” as Fort Worth stares down a budget shortfall of more than $76 million, the city said.
The city says it has offered a $40 million contract over four years — the largest offer, a press release said, in the department’s history. The offer included a 20% salary increase over four years and changes to the department’s staffing and benefits.
According to the city’s most recent payroll data, Fort Worth firefighters earn between roughly $73,000 and $97,000.
The union’s current contract, according to the Fort Worth Lab (the city’s data analytics arm), totaled $20 million between 2022 and 2026.
City spokesperson Sana Syed said on Wednesday that the city was unable to comment, citing ongoing contract negotiations.
A representative for the firefighter’s union did not return requests for comment, or provide the union’s estimate for the cost of their contract.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Emily Holshouser is a local news reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.