A SAFER Austin tells the story of the Austin Firefighters who faced cuts to public safety in the summer of 2025.

The members of the Austin Firefighters Association tell their story and how share much we appreciate the City Council for having our backs and NOT reversing the 4-person Staffing Ordinance. Firefighters make the case and clearly point the finger where it rightfully belongs to the Fire Chief and City Manager for pushing a reckless and dangerous staffing plan.

Firefighters share that the underlying data and facts prove that Chief Baker and the Budget Director included many items in their calculations for absenteeism that are NOT absenteeism at all and thus materially skew the results.

Examples include but are not limited to, hours included above the firefighters maximum 53 hours work week( scheduled time off to comply with FLSA), fire department firefighter position vacancies, injury on the job (IOJ) recovery time, military leave, assignment leave to work at other sections (like being assigned to teach at the Cadet academy…and the list goes on and on…all inappropriately included in the absenteeism rate calculation in the July 28th Memo.

For more information about the film or to schedule a private screening with your community group, HOA, or association please contact bob_nicks@yahoo.com. Please support the SAFER Austin petition, you may request a petition form or more information about the petition at the link below.

SIGN THE SAFER AUSTIN PETITION THIS SATURDAY

FROM 9am - 1pm ALL AROUND AUSTIN

SFC Farmers' Market Downtown,

Republic Square

422 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78701

SFC Farmers' Market at Sunset Valley,

Tony Burger Center

3200 Jones Rd, Austin, TX 78745

Barton Creek Farmer's Market,

Back of Barton Creek Mall

2901 S Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78746

EVERYDAY AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS RISK IT ALL TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE.

this summer the city manager and fire chief played politics with public safety.

austin firefighters stand here now, asking for your support to ensure that public safety remains our city’s top priority.

THE SAFER AUSTIN CHARTER AMENDMENT WILL ENSHRINE THE public safety FOUR Firefighter Staffing Ordinance IN TO OUR CITY CHARTER. PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY WITH A PUBLIC VOTE

This critical law must be protected and we need your help.

The facts are simple.

For years, Austin has followed a national gold standard known as “Four Firefighter Minimum Staffing.” It’s backed by science, endorsed by safety experts, and written into Austin law. Why? Because four firefighters on every fire engine means:

• Faster rescues

• Safer operations

• Better outcomes for you and your family

Whether it’s a fire, crash, heart attack, or overdose — FOUR saves lives.

we must preserve and secure this Life-Saving Standard

This summer the City Manager attempted to repeal the minimum staffing law and cut fire crews down to just three firefighters per engine. And the Fire Chief TWICE suggested the closure of critical community fire stations or the shuttering of essential rescue and fire truck operations. SAFER AUSTIN will prevent these dangerous cuts to your family’s safety.

Here are three critical facts to know about your Austin Firefighter’s SAFER AUSTIN, charter amendment.

1.    SAFER AUSTIN places you and your family’s safety as a top priority within our city’s charter, cementing the nationally recognized, science based minimum standards that ensure Austin Firefighters have the resources they need to save lives, safely and efficiently, on every call and stops apparatus and neighborhood  Fire Stations from being shut down.

2.    SAFER AUSTIN does NOT add to the City budget. It simply protects the safe staffing ordinance with the power of Austin’s voters. This plan is proven to save lives, reduce injuries, loss of life, and prevents additional property damage.

3.    SAFER AUSTIN will NOT prevent City Leadership from managing the fire department and it intentionally grants special powers in cases of catastrophic emergencies or critical financial crisis.

Real Lives. Real Consequences.

In Fall River, Massachusetts, nine seniors died in a nursing home fire in July 2025. Their fire department ran short-staffed with three-person crews. Firefighters couldn’t get ladders up or people out in time. Experts agree: more firefighters could have saved lives.

Here in Austin:

• In July, Engine 20 arrived at a house fire with four firefighters. They entered, rescued the trapped victim, and delivered life-saving care before EMS arrived. With only three, that rescue likely would have failed.

• Every day, Austin firefighters respond to crashes, overdoses, heart attacks, strokes, and rescues. In every case, FOUR firefighters means faster care and better outcomes.

FOUR is Safer. FOUR is Smarter. FOUR is the Law.

And now, we can put four in to the city of austin charter.

• It’s the national safety standard.

• It’s written into Austin law.

• It’s working — saving lives and reducing injuries.

But now, in the wake of Chief Baker and City Manager Broadnax reckless behavior and shortsighted propositions, Austin Firefighters are now asking you to put the Public Voice back in to Public Safety in Austin.

Firefighters need your support for the SAFER AUSTIN charter amendment:

The SAFER AUSTIN charter amendment will:

• Prevent neighborhood fire station closures.

• Avoid brownouts of critical resources in your community.

• Ensure that the right number of firefighters show up when you call 911.

• Save lives, avoid injuries, and prevent unnecessary property loss.

The SAFER AUSTIN charter amendment NOT:

• SAFER AUSTIN will not raise taxes.

• SAFER AUSTIN will not add to the city budget.

• SAFER AUSTIN will not take away local control.

• SAFER AUSTIN will not impact other programs already budgeted by city leaders.

• SAFER AUSTIN will not prevent the Fire Chief from managing the fire department or firefighters.

SAFER AUSTIN intentionally includes numerous emergency provisions and special powers to provide options and choices during catastrophic emergencies and times of critical financial crisis within the City of Austin. SAFER AUSTIN is well thought-out, intentional, and by design safety focus but budget concious.

We’re Asking You to Take a Stand

Your firefighters are ready to serve. We’re trained, we’re equipped, and we’re willing to risk it all for you. But we need the staffing, the standards, and the leadership to do our jobs safely and effectively.

Please:

👉 JOIN US AND SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY

👉 STAND WITH FIREFIGHTERS TO KEEP THE FOUR FIREFIGHTER SAFETY STANDARD

👉 SIGN OUR SAFER AUSTIN CHARTER AMENDMENT

FOR FIREFIGHTERS Public safety isn’t political.

It’s personal.

Thank you for your support.

— Your Austin Firefighters