Lake Travis Fire Rescue provides Fire Suppression, Fire Prevention, Technical Rescue, and ALS Medical Response for 104 square miles of western Travis County. LTFR serves the municipalities of Lakeway, Bee Caves, and The Hills as well as the unincorporated areas of Hudson Bend, Steiner Ranch, Comanche Trails, and Hamilton Pool. The district is serviced with six fire stations and four person minimum staffing.
As of Summer 2025 – Lake Travis Fire Rescue is a great place to be. Like anywhere we have problems, but compared to other departments in the region/state we are doing well.
Let’s talk positives – no ambulances.
Seriously though, our district is fairly unique for a small department, which makes it fun. We have the opportunity to respond to a high number of water related incidents on the lakes and rivers; as well as technical rescues, and wildland fires due to the terrain of the Texas hill country. We have a diverse population and a variety of home types, ranging from trailer parks to 8000+ sq/ft homes. We have two busy highways with multiple commercial areas. We have a fire boat and multiple large marinas. We have a robust prevention division with shift work positions for fire investigators. We support a TAC team with drones. We have an in-house fleet division that assists with other assets regionally. We provide a high level of EMS service without running ambulances. We run ALS companies and will send you to Paramedic or A-EMT school if you choose to go. Our training division is expanding with land and plans to build a training center with connex style burn props. Not to mention, if you want to go to training – we will send you. We have a great culture of supporting those who show interest and want to improve. We have an active union with collective bargaining and our current contract puts us among the better paid departments regionally. We have decent benefit time/PTO and the ability to accrue comp time. We have a secure and conservatively run TLFFRA pension. We have 6 stations with plans for two more, as well as replacing a number of the current/old stations. We have four person minimum staffing on a 48/96 schedule. Oh…and no ambulances.
Despite all the positives listed above, morale is mixed. Our administration is slow, inefficient, and detached from the goal of public service. The chiefs spend more time in meetings or making visits to the state capitol all while decisions never get made and responsibility gets passed to someone else. We spend a ridiculous amount of time and money on pet projects disguised as public relations and political posturing. Nobody is held accountable for their actions (or inactions). When a job doesn’t get done the goal posts are moved or the problem is swept under the rug. Thanks to our fairly affluent nature we have the luxury of passing the buck or just waiting until someone else solves our problem. This has created stagnation for years with promises of all the good things to come – but nobody knows how or when. This may seem trivial, but it has presently wasted a promotional process and decimated promotable positions. There are still remnants of the ‘good-ol-boy’ system and the members that have benefited from it. As those members begin to retire I see the future of this place getting brighter. Despite these frustrations, I still recommend this department, as I believe it has the potential to become the best in Texas once we prioritize what truly matters.
Lake Travis Fire Rescue (Travis County ESD 6) is truly a hidden gem in the Central Texas fire service community. Like any department, it has its challenges, but overall, it’s an outstanding place to work with a bright future.
The department currently operates six stations, with plans to grow to eight in the near future. Our fleet is modern and well-maintained, thanks to an in-house team of mechanics that keeps everything running smoothly. Training opportunities are abundant, and there’s a strong emphasis on professional development and growth. Facilities are solid, and morale is generally high throughout the organization.
One area that could use improvement is within the administrative side of the house. At times, internal initiatives can feel somewhat out of touch with the day-to-day operations. However, with continued growth and some inevitable leadership turnover, I believe these issues will naturally improve as the department continues to evolve.
We run ALS trucks with four-person staffing, and our 48/96 schedule is a huge quality-of-life benefit. The benefits package is excellent, the pension is strong, and the amount of PTO we’re able to accrue is unmatched.
I truly enjoy working here and would confidently recommend LTFR to anyone considering a fire service career in the area. It’s a department on the rise with a lot to offer now—and even more in the years to come.
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2 Reviews on “Lake Travis Fire Rescue (Travis County ESD 6)”
As of Summer 2025 – Lake Travis Fire Rescue is a great place to be. Like anywhere we have problems, but compared to other departments in the region/state we are doing well.
Let’s talk positives – no ambulances.
Seriously though, our district is fairly unique for a small department, which makes it fun. We have the opportunity to respond to a high number of water related incidents on the lakes and rivers; as well as technical rescues, and wildland fires due to the terrain of the Texas hill country. We have a diverse population and a variety of home types, ranging from trailer parks to 8000+ sq/ft homes. We have two busy highways with multiple commercial areas. We have a fire boat and multiple large marinas. We have a robust prevention division with shift work positions for fire investigators. We support a TAC team with drones. We have an in-house fleet division that assists with other assets regionally. We provide a high level of EMS service without running ambulances. We run ALS companies and will send you to Paramedic or A-EMT school if you choose to go. Our training division is expanding with land and plans to build a training center with connex style burn props. Not to mention, if you want to go to training – we will send you. We have a great culture of supporting those who show interest and want to improve. We have an active union with collective bargaining and our current contract puts us among the better paid departments regionally. We have decent benefit time/PTO and the ability to accrue comp time. We have a secure and conservatively run TLFFRA pension. We have 6 stations with plans for two more, as well as replacing a number of the current/old stations. We have four person minimum staffing on a 48/96 schedule. Oh…and no ambulances.
Despite all the positives listed above, morale is mixed. Our administration is slow, inefficient, and detached from the goal of public service. The chiefs spend more time in meetings or making visits to the state capitol all while decisions never get made and responsibility gets passed to someone else. We spend a ridiculous amount of time and money on pet projects disguised as public relations and political posturing. Nobody is held accountable for their actions (or inactions). When a job doesn’t get done the goal posts are moved or the problem is swept under the rug. Thanks to our fairly affluent nature we have the luxury of passing the buck or just waiting until someone else solves our problem. This has created stagnation for years with promises of all the good things to come – but nobody knows how or when. This may seem trivial, but it has presently wasted a promotional process and decimated promotable positions. There are still remnants of the ‘good-ol-boy’ system and the members that have benefited from it. As those members begin to retire I see the future of this place getting brighter. Despite these frustrations, I still recommend this department, as I believe it has the potential to become the best in Texas once we prioritize what truly matters.
Lake Travis Fire Rescue (Travis County ESD 6) is truly a hidden gem in the Central Texas fire service community. Like any department, it has its challenges, but overall, it’s an outstanding place to work with a bright future.
The department currently operates six stations, with plans to grow to eight in the near future. Our fleet is modern and well-maintained, thanks to an in-house team of mechanics that keeps everything running smoothly. Training opportunities are abundant, and there’s a strong emphasis on professional development and growth. Facilities are solid, and morale is generally high throughout the organization.
One area that could use improvement is within the administrative side of the house. At times, internal initiatives can feel somewhat out of touch with the day-to-day operations. However, with continued growth and some inevitable leadership turnover, I believe these issues will naturally improve as the department continues to evolve.
We run ALS trucks with four-person staffing, and our 48/96 schedule is a huge quality-of-life benefit. The benefits package is excellent, the pension is strong, and the amount of PTO we’re able to accrue is unmatched.
I truly enjoy working here and would confidently recommend LTFR to anyone considering a fire service career in the area. It’s a department on the rise with a lot to offer now—and even more in the years to come.