LUBBOCK, Texas — Lubbock Fire Rescue is planning a major staffing expansion and schedule overhaul aimed at making it easier for experienced firefighters to join the department while maintaining the existing hiring pipeline for new recruits.
What the agreement changes
The changes come after a meet-and-confer agreement approved by the Lubbock City Council. Under the plan, the department will shift its staffing model from a 24 hours on, 48 hours off schedule to a 24 hours on, 72 hours off schedule. To support the longer rest cycle, Lubbock Fire Rescue will add an additional shift across its 20 fire stations, requiring a total of 133 new personnel to implement the change.
Officials say the expansion will be phased in using a combination of traditional hiring and a new lateral hiring process designed to attract already certified and trained firefighters from other jurisdictions.
How lateral hiring will work
The department plans to bring in lateral hires in batches, with Derek Delgado describing the cadence as roughly 22 new lateral hires each year over six years. Those hired laterally will still complete a shortened local academy so they can learn department-specific systems and protocols.
“This will come in batches. ... This is a way that firefighters that are already certified and trained can transfer to the Lubbock Fire Department,” Derek Delgado said.
Delgado further explained that the shortened academy — expected to be about six weeks — is intended to familiarize lateral hires with Lubbock Fire Rescue reporting platforms, medical call protocols and procedures for large-scale incidents before they are assigned to shifts.
Application details and timeline
Lubbock Fire Rescue says the lateral hiring program will not change the process for applicants seeking entry-level positions. The department opened lateral applications with a deadline of Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. Applicants can submit materials through the Lubbock Fire Rescue website.
- New schedule: 24 hours on, 72 hours off
- Stations affected: 20
- Total new personnel needed: 133
- Lateral hiring pace: about 22 hires per year for six years
- Local academy for lateral hires: about six weeks
Local implications
For Lubbock residents, the changes promise several practical outcomes. Increasing staffing levels and adding a shift could improve coverage and response times during busy periods, while the new schedule gives crews longer recovery periods between shifts — a change supporters say can reduce fatigue and improve safety. At the same time, the focus on lateral hires creates opportunities for experienced firefighters elsewhere to move to Lubbock without repeating a full academy.
City leaders and fire department officials framed the plan as a workforce strategy that balances recruitment needs with operational continuity. Because the lateral program is phased, the department will be able to integrate experienced personnel gradually while continuing to train new recruits through the standard process.
Next steps
Applications for the lateral hiring window close on Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. As the department moves forward, residents and city stakeholders can expect announcements about the phased hiring schedule and any updates to station staffing or response protocols as additional personnel are onboarded and trained.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total new positions | 133 |
| Stations | 20 |
| Shift schedule | 24 on / 72 off |
| Lateral hires per year | ~22 for six years |
| Short academy length | About six weeks |
Residents interested in more information or considering applying should visit the Lubbock Fire Rescue website for application instructions and any subsequent announcements from the department.
