A Texas county ended the contracts of six volunteer fire departments, putting many firefighters in limbo.
El Paso County's Emergency Services Department Board voted to unanimously terminate the contracts of area fire departments in District 2 Tuesday night, KTSM-TV reports. The departments have been given 90-day notices that the county concerning the move.
Emergency Services District 2 serves the communities of San Elizario, Fabens, Clint, Montana Vista, Socorro, Anthony, and Vinton. The affected agencies include Clint Fire Department, Fabens Fire and Rescue, Montana Vista Fire and Rescue, San Elizario Fire and Rescue, Socorro Fire Department and West Valley Fire Department.
Board officials told KTSM that it wasn't their intention to end fire service in the county, but they didn't offer an alternative. Volunteer firefighters protect a sizable chunk of El Paso County.
Officials from the affected volunteer fire departments are still holding out for talks with the board's attorney in order to work out a new deal over the next 90 days. The attorney, however, is based in Austin and didn't attend Tuesday's meeting, according to KTSM.
