While Texas officials tout billions in funding for wildfire relief and public safety, many residents in Collin County’s rural outskirts are wondering: what happens if the fire truck never shows up?
For thousands of people living in unincorporated parts of Collin County—areas outside of city limits with no municipal fire department—emergency response is less a guarantee and more a gamble. Residents have reported ambulance wait times of 40 minutes or more, and fire response that often arrives too late to save property—or worse.
According to a March 2024 presentation to county officials, roughly 20% of Collin County’s land area, including rapidly growing subdivisions near Farmersville, Lowry Crossing, and Josephine, lacks full coverage by fire and EMS services. The Collin County Commissioners Court has acknowledged the problem, with Judge Chris Hill stating during a 2023 public meeting, “We know we have gaps. We are looking at long-term solutions, but there’s no quick fix.” Source: CollinCountyTX.gov
The Risk Is Real—and Growing
This wouldn’t be quite so alarming if Texas wasn’t in the middle of a record-breaking wildfire season. The 2025 Smokehouse Creek Fire—the largest in state history—devoured over 1 million acres in the Panhandle. Here in North Texas, dry conditions and explosive population growth in the county’s eastern edge are a dangerous combo. More homes, more people, and no new stations.
It’s not just theoretical. In 2023, a mobile home near Weston, outside city coverage, burned to the ground before help arrived—43 minutes after the initial 911 call. Source: KERA News
So Why Doesn’t Collin County Just Build Fire Stations?
Unlike cities, counties in Texas aren’t allowed to directly fund fire or EMS services. That power falls to what’s known as an Emergency Services District, or ESD—independent taxing entities voters must approve at the ballot box. Think of them like school districts, but for fire protection.
Collin County currently has only one ESD (No. 1, covering parts of Parker and Lucas), which means the rest of the unincorporated areas rely on patchwork agreements, volunteer fire departments, or neighboring towns responding out of courtesy—not obligation.
“There’s no formal contract for coverage in some of these areas,” said Kevin Haines, a fire protection consultant who has advised several Texas counties on ESD formation. “When the house is on fire, you call 911—but whether someone shows up is a different matter.” [Source: KERA News]
Voters May Get a Say Soon
In February 2025, local leaders in eastern Collin County held public forums to discuss a proposed new ESD that could fund a dedicated fire station and paid personnel. A public hearing is scheduled for July 21, and if approved, the proposal would go to voters in November. [Source: CollinCountyTX.gov]
Meanwhile, developers continue building neighborhoods in areas with no guaranteed emergency service coverage, banking on buyers not asking the right questions. A local real estate agent, who requested anonymity due to client confidentiality, told TX3DNews, “It’s not illegal to build there. But we do try to disclose that the fire protection is… limited.”
What About Our Leaders?
So far, no public statements have been made by Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) regarding fire safety gaps in his home county. Gov. Greg Abbott has championed over $3 billion in public safety funds, but most are allocated to state-level programs, school security, or large municipalities—not rural zones without formal taxing districts.
It’s a familiar story: lots of funding headlines, but for TX-03 residents outside the city line, help is still 40 minutes away.
Final Word
Wildfires are getting worse. The county is growing fast. And right now, parts of Collin County don’t have the tools—or the funding—to keep up. Until voters approve real, structural solutions like a new ESD, these gaps will remain wide open.
And the next time someone dials 911, they might be left waiting while everything burns.
Editor’s Note: This report references verified public statements and government records from CollinCountyTX.gov and KERA News as of April 2025.
— TX3DNews.com
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