Austin fire chief accused of denying deployment of special rescue team to flood zone over $800K dispute
AUSTIN, TEXAS: The Austin fire chief has been accused of denying the deployment of highly trained first responders to assist with flood rescue efforts in Kerrville, Texas, during the catastrophic flooding that claimed more than 100 lives and displaced many others.
In a Facebook post, the Austin Firefighters Association claimed that the state requested assistance from the Austin Fire Department (AFD) special operations teams a day before floodwaters surged from the Guadalupe River on the morning of July 4.
Who is the Austin Fire Chief Joel G Baker?
Joel G Baker has been serving as the chief of the Austin Fire Department since his appointment in 2018, as per his profile on the City of Austin's website.
Baker started his career in the fire service in 1986 with the City of East Point Fire Department in Georgia. Two years later, he went on to join the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, rising through the ranks to Fire Chief, a rank he held until his retirement in February 2018, after 30 years of service.
During his time in Atlanta, Baker served in numerous organizations, including as Chairperson of the Atlanta Regional Commission/Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative, and as a Board Member to the State of Georgia’s 9-1-1 Authority Advisory Board.
On the academic front, the fire chief holds degrees from Georgia State University and Columbus State University.
Austin Firefighters Association accuses Austin Fire Chief Joel G Baker of denying deployment
The Austin Firefighters Association took to their official Facebook page on Monday, July 7, to slam Baker’s actions as an "egregious dereliction of duty.”
They also stated that "lives were very likely lost" due to his decision to delay deployment, as Austin’s elite swift water rescue teams were not deployed until July 4 or later, despite requests from the state on July 2 and 3.
"It is absolutely outrageous that the Austin Fire Chief, Joel G. Baker, would not allow highly trained firefighters from Austin to respond to Kerrville. Because of this egregious dereliction of duty, LIVES WERE VERY LIKELY LOST BECAUSE OF CHIEF BAKER’S DECISION!” they wrote in the post.
"Deployment orders came down from the State of Texas on July 2. We would've been pre-deployed before the waters even began to rise! It is unforgivable that a fire chief would NOT allow his firefighters to answer the call to save lives,” the post further read.
The firefighters' union president, Bob Nicks, said Austin “had the best boat crews in the state, if not the nation.”
“We were the best rescue team in the best position to help those little girls,” said Nicks, referencing campers and counselors at Camp Mystic in Kerr County.
“Before the moratorium, this was a routine request, and we would have deployed,” he added.
Nicks also told KXAN that he is aware of some AFD personnel who were contacted by the state on July 2, but they declined to deploy because of an earlier “standing order” from leadership that had been communicated by email.
The outlet reviewed the email, which was dated June 6 and stated that the department was suspending deployments through October 1.
“The City is facing a budget crisis, and there is currently something like $800,000 in outstanding reimbursements owed to AFD by the State of Texas. The City wants to make sure this money is reimbursed before the end of the fiscal year, and does not want to be in a situation where additional money is expended on deployments and is not recouped before the end of the fiscal year,” it stated.
The AFA called for a vote of no confidence against Baker, holding a meeting on July 8 to discuss his removal, with the formal vote set to take place from July 15 to 17, 2025.
Austin Fire Chief Joe G Baker denies association’s allegations
Fire Chief Baker has vehemently denied allegations leveled by the firefighters' association, telling KXAN that he was informed of three requests for assistance on July 4.
One for an assistant chief, who chose not to go. One for a dispatcher, which was denied. And one for rescue swimmers, who were deployed.
Baker explained that his priority was making sure Austin had enough personnel on hand in case flash floods struck the city of 970,000.
“It’s important that we are able to function and maintain a certain level of readiness in the city of Austin. Now, to keep in mind — again — I was not sure how much of the weather would impact my city, the city of Austin. I need to make sure that I have an adequate amount of resources within the city so I can respond to my mutual aid calls and my automatic aid calls around the city of Austin,” Chief Baker said.
Baker said he delayed deployments because of “internal issues” concerning the state’s reimbursement process, stressing that budget constraints had “nothing” to do with his decision-making.
“We had to work on our own internal issues, on how we get reimbursed. It was a collaborative effort between the state and the Austin Fire Department, and we have resolved those matters… I’m telling you and the viewers, it has nothing to do with budget challenges and issues,” said Baker.
He added that the department sent eight members and a boat team to aid Travis County Emergency Services District 1 on July 5 and 6, as flooding hit parts of that county and recovery efforts expanded in Central Texas.
