The cities of Westlake and Keller are currently exploring the possibility of merging their fire departments to improve services and expand response capabilities, according to a press release.
This would not be the first partnership between the two cities. The Keller Police has served the city of Westlake for 19 years through a contract.
“This is an incredible opportunity for both communities to come together to create a regional department,” Westlake Fire-EMS Chief Richard Whitten says via press release. “There is a growing trend across the nation of fire departments consolidating into single regional departments and I am honored to be a part of this transformation.”
The first step of exploring the merger will be an agreement that will go before both cities’ city councils, in which Chief Witten “would begin serving as Keller’s Interim Fire Chief, and Keller battalion chiefs would start running calls in Westlake,” according to a press release.
“We’ve already seen what can be accomplished through mutual aid agreements and our regional Fire Department association focused on specialized rescues,” Keller Deputy Fire Chief Shane Gainer says via press release. “A partnership like this could take those efforts to the next level in caring for our communities.”