To address slowing response times and a rising call volume, the Georgetown Fire Department plans to construct Fire Station No. 8, remodel existing facilities and strategically deploy ambulances.
Fire Chief John Sullivan presented a department update detailing trends and future plans to City Council on Jan. 27.
What’s happening
The city is currently designing Fire Station No. 8, with plans to open the station in 2028, Sullivan said. Its location on Westinghouse Road and FM 1460 will bring service to a “dense area with high need,” Sullivan said.
In the meantime, the city is working to remodel Fire Station No. 1 and construct a Logistics Facility to provide support for fire response operations.
To improve response times along the Hwy. 29 corridor, plans include adding peak load ambulances that specifically operate during high-volume periods, Sullivan said.
The cause
The department had 1,129 more responses in 2025 than in 2024, which averaged out to about 80 responses per day last year. Total annual responses have risen from 22,883 in 2021 to 29,398 in 2025.
This demand has led to slower response times. In 2025, emergency response times averaged 10 minutes and 54 seconds in 90% of priority calls, which exceeds the department’s goal of nine minutes, Sullivan said.
Population growth is a large factor in increased demand, Sullivan said. Long-term planning anticipates a population increase from 140,000 in 2025 to 210,000 by 2030 in the fire service area, according to city documents.
Fire Station No. 8 is a primary focus because the southern part of the city is experiencing the greatest level of building density, and a 31% higher critical call demand compared to other areas, according to city documents.
Something to note
Structure fires have increased in Georgetown, with data showing a 71% year-over-year increase from 2024, according to city documents.
Charging damaged batteries—pushing them to a thermal overload—is one of the main factors contributing to the rise in structure fires, Sullivan said. All types of batteries can contribute to accidental fires, but especially portable batteries used for power equipment, left to charge indoors and unattended, he said.
“We used to have the typical candles and things like that, and now its old chargers, bad or cheap charger extensions, and ... batteries,” Sullivan said.
What else?
Medical incidents have increased from approximately 10,200 in 2023 to 11,700 in 2025. Specifically, incidents involving sepsis have increased by 45%.
These trends are driven in part by an older population. Demographic data shows 30% of Georgetown residents are over the age of 65, which is the age group most likely to require medical services, Sullivan said.
“We’re somewhat unique as a city—our culture, what we identify as,” Sullivan said.
