BY SIERRA MARTIN
Diving in deeper
One of the programs that the NBFD is recognized for is its dive team. According to Lozano, the 15 member team is called out to assist other re and police departments for water rescues, evidence collection and other emergencies throughout the region. In the future, Lozano said the department plans to grow the New Braunfels dive team to be a regional force made up of re ghters from neighboring cities training and becoming a part of
the program. “Our goal is to maybe start incorporating re ghters from those same cities to join us and have a regional dive team that is made up of the community re ghters,” Lozano said. While interviewing candidates that can be hired with SAFER grant funding, Lozano said they will be looking to add personnel that can contribute their individual skills and strengths to the department.
New Braunfels re ghters John Sippel (left) and Nick Bautizta prepare for any possible water rescues that the dive team may respond to.
SIERRA MARTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT
What they’re saying
What’s next?
Fire Station No. 7 • Address: 357 FM 306, New Braunfels • Construction cost : $9.5 million • Size: approximately 15,000 square feet • Staf ing: 24 personnel • Construction timeline: August 2022-anticipated completion March 2024 • Funding source: Creekside Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone
The New Braunfels Human Resources Department is combing through around 200 re ghter candidate applications and anticipates hiring new re ghters by utilizing the SAFER grant in early 2024. During the hiring process, a panel of active New Braunfels re ghters will begin interviewing potential candidates to make sure they would be a good t. The department is also working toward constructing a full service training center next to Fire Station No. 7 that would be equipped with re simulators, a driving course and rescue props. The construction of Fire Station No. 7 is nearing completion, and has already been fully sta ed with 24 personnel and out tted to begin servicing the community in early 2024. According to Doegey, without the SAFER grant the department’s sta ng would have been stretched thin once the new station opens.
“Our team did a tremendous amount of work to research the grant program as well as the full application and then
used that knowledge to develop our application.” ROBERT CAMARENO, NEW BRAUNFELS CITY MANAGER
306
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"This is the rst grant of its kind to be awarded to New Braunfels, and it’s also the largest grant
that they’ve ever gotten for the re department." RUY LOZANO, NEW BRAUNFELS FIRE CHIEF
N
SOURCE: NEW BRAUNFELS FIRE DEPARTMENTCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION
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