BIG SPRING, Texas — Big Spring Fire Chief Jay Holt told NewsWest 9 that the Big Spring Fire Department is entering a contract with Allegiance Mobile Health, allowing the company to operate EMS services in Big Spring.
“We were forced to change to a private EMS service because of our staffing levels," Holt said. "We just don't have the staffing to continue to run EMS like we did in the past.”
The City of Big Spring reached out to multiple medical services when searching for the right fit, but eventually settled with Allegiance.
"We went out for RFP's and they were the ones the city chose to provide the service," Holt said. "We've talked with other fire departments. They provide the same service with Corsicana Fire and visited with some of their chiefs who recommended that.”
While it may look a little different in Big Spring, Holt said BSFD will still be ready to serve at a moment's notice.
“Allegiance Mobile Health will be responding to all 911 EMS calls in the city and the county," Holt said. "Big Spring Fire will continue to first respond to EMS calls in the city limits.”
The contract with Allegiance was also a way for BSFD to catch their breath and potentially get their numbers back up.
Big Spring's fire department has been understaffed for quite some time now, but the city is hopeful that, by raising salaries compared to similar-sized departments and offering salary and education incentives, they can recruit and retain more firefighters.
“We don't have the staffing to continue to run EMS. We were working our guys a lot of overtime," Holt said. "This gives them a break and allows us to regroup and hopefully get some staffing hired and we plan on taking EMS back in a year when we get our staffing levels back up.”
Holt assures the people of Big Spring that, while some new faces will be helping out, people can still expect the same quick response as always.
“When you call 911, you're still going to get an EMS response," Holt said. "The fire department is still going to be responding to major stuff to assist. Allegiance will be taking people out to Scenic Mountain Medical Center, just like we did.”