When an emergency happens, Fair Oaks Ranch residents depend on trained professionals who are ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Through the City’s partnership with Bexar County Emergency Services District No. 4, our community receives dependable fire protection, emergency medical response, ambulance transportation and rescue services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

ESD 4’s firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians respond to everything from structure fires and medical emergencies to vehicle accidents, severe weather and other situations where lives and property may be at risk. 

Their service extends beyond individual emergency calls. ESD 4 maintains trained personnel, emergency vehicles, medical equipment, communications systems, and mutual-aid agreements with surrounding agencies. These resources allow responders to coordinate with regional partners and provide additional support during large or complex emergencies.

Fair Oaks Ranch has seen the value of that partnership firsthand. ESD 4 crews have supported the community during fires, medical emergencies, major weather events, and the historic flooding experienced in July. 

For Fire Chief Jack Andrade, the partnership goes well beyond responding to emergencies. “The relationship between ESD No. 4 and the City of Fair Oaks Ranch is best described as a true partnership rather than a contractual arrangement,” Andrade said. “We work together on emergency preparedness, natural weather events, public safety initiatives, and community programs, all with the shared goal of serving the residents of Fair Oaks Ranch. This relationship is built on collaboration, trust, and a common commitment to the community.”

In 2025, the city entered into a new 10-year agreement with ESD 4 to provide fire protection, first-response, ambulance and emergency medical services throughout Fair Oaks Ranch. Under the new agreement, the City’s annual payment increased from approximately $600,000 to $1.1 million. Payments are scheduled to increase during the agreement’s first four years before the City’s contribution becomes tied to ESD 4’s adopted property-tax rate. The agreement represents an estimated investment of approximately $25 million over its 10-year term.

The additional property-tax revenue approved by the City helps meet this growing contractual obligation and maintain the emergency services residents rely on. Although no one welcomes paying more in taxes, this increase supports a service that directly affects the safety and well-being of every resident, business, and visitor in Fair Oaks Ranch.

The City remains committed to carefully managing public funds, monitoring ESD 4’s performance, and keeping residents informed about how their tax dollars are used. The agreement includes response-time goals, monthly reporting requirements and other service standards designed to promote accountability and dependable coverage.

Emergency services are most visible during a crisis, but the work required to provide them happens every day through training, maintenance, planning and preparation. The City is deeply grateful to the men and women of ESD 4 for their professionalism, preparation and commitment to serving Fair Oaks Ranch. Their work often takes place during someone’s most difficult moments, but ESD4’s promise to Fair Oaks Ranch goes beyond being another service provider. In Fire Chief Andrade’s words, “Our goal is to remain an integral part of the community, fostering the kind of lasting partnership that feels more like family than a business arrangement.”

Thank you to ESD4 and the dedicated first responders who stand ready to serve Fair Oaks Ranch whenever they are needed.