Following an 18-month dispute over millions of dollars’ worth of fire engines and bunker gear, Harris County Emergency Services District No. 48 and West I-10 VFD announced March 10 they had reached a settlement.

The dispute began in August 2015 when ESD 48 began providing its own emergency response services rather than contracting with West I-10 VFD for its volunteer labor. West I-10 VFD personnel seized helmets, personal protective equipment, bunker gear and vehicles, which remained in a storage facility for several months.

According to legal documents, West I-10 VFD board members maintained that they owned all fire and emergency assets per a contract with ESD 48, and although they have continued a public outreach program, they have not responded to a service call since August 2015.

“As part of the agreement, West I-10 VFD and HCESD 48 agreed to a monetary settlement for outstanding invoices and equitable transition of all disputed vehicles and assets,” ESD 48 Public Information Officer Simon VanDyk said in a news release issued March 10. “West I-10 VFD will keep two fire trucks, a number of command vehicles, a safety trailer and sufficient firefighting gear to outfit their current members. HCESD 48 will receive various fire trucks, including a tower, ladder [and] rescue [truck]; pumpers; ambulances; command and support vehicles; firefighting equipment; and the remaining firefighting gear not allocated to West I-10 VFD.”

[aesop_image img="http://communityimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KTY-2017-02-Lead2Hero.jpg" credit="April Towery" alt="Harris County ESD 48" align="center" lightbox="on" captionposition="left" revealfx="off"]