ESD No. 1 tells county court it’s expanding paramedic staffing, training and regional training plans
March 19, 2026 | El Paso County, Texas
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Emergency Services District No. 1 (ESD1) told the Commissioners Court on March 19 that it has expanded training, responded to growing calls and is planning capital and staffing changes to meet projected demand.
“Everything that we do is based upon that mission statement,” Chief Chris Menendez said, describing the district’s drive to provide a “high level of cost‑efficient quality services to the citizens of El Paso County.” Menendez outlined an all‑paramedic program that currently has roughly 70% of staff at the paramedic level and noted participation in statewide mutual‑aid networks such as TIFMAS and an IMT incident management team.
Katherine Ames, the district administrator, described a feasibility‑driven capital plan that balances up‑front purchases against long‑term operating costs. She stressed apparatus lifecycles (an NFPA benchmark of roughly 15 years for large fire apparatus), rising replacement costs (an example apparatus cost rising from $1.2M to ~$1.9M), and a push toward smaller, quicker response vehicles to save fuel and maintenance costs.
ESD1 also outlined ambitions for a regional training academy on secured land near Horizon City and said it was working with congressional staff on possible grant funding. Menendez projected call volumes rising from roughly 5,000 per year today to more than 6,200 by 2031 and said the district anticipates building a new station (Station 3) with an approximate five‑year delivery timeline.
In Q&A, staff said they are seeking technical and limited startup support from the county for interagency systems such as e‑ticketing and said they hoped to reach several operational milestones (e.g., e‑ticket readiness by Oct. 1) by coordinating funding and partnerships.
Why it matters: The presentation framed near‑term staffing and capital requests within a planning horizon to 2031; the court will use this briefing to evaluate requests during the FY27 budget process and continued strategic planning.
“Everything that we do is based upon that mission statement,” Chief Chris Menendez said, describing the district’s drive to provide a “high level of cost‑efficient quality services to the citizens of El Paso County.” Menendez outlined an all‑paramedic program that currently has roughly 70% of staff at the paramedic level and noted participation in statewide mutual‑aid networks such as TIFMAS and an IMT incident management team.
Katherine Ames, the district administrator, described a feasibility‑driven capital plan that balances up‑front purchases against long‑term operating costs. She stressed apparatus lifecycles (an NFPA benchmark of roughly 15 years for large fire apparatus), rising replacement costs (an example apparatus cost rising from $1.2M to ~$1.9M), and a push toward smaller, quicker response vehicles to save fuel and maintenance costs.
ESD1 also outlined ambitions for a regional training academy on secured land near Horizon City and said it was working with congressional staff on possible grant funding. Menendez projected call volumes rising from roughly 5,000 per year today to more than 6,200 by 2031 and said the district anticipates building a new station (Station 3) with an approximate five‑year delivery timeline.
In Q&A, staff said they are seeking technical and limited startup support from the county for interagency systems such as e‑ticketing and said they hoped to reach several operational milestones (e.g., e‑ticket readiness by Oct. 1) by coordinating funding and partnerships.
Why it matters: The presentation framed near‑term staffing and capital requests within a planning horizon to 2031; the court will use this briefing to evaluate requests during the FY27 budget process and continued strategic planning.
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