By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- • Hunt County commissioners voted to end the contract with the Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department for services in unincorporated areas outside Quinlan, Texas.
- • The move followed a March 2025 house fire that killed three people and prompted questions about the department’s response.
- • Commissioners also cited a 2025 crash involving a Quinlan fire truck that raised concerns about training and vehicle maintenance.
- • Coverage inside the Quinlan city limits by the South Hunt County Fire Department is not affected.
- • Fire protection services will continue under the current agreement for 90 days while the county seeks a long-term solution.
HUNT COUNTY, TX — Hunt County commissioners on Jan. 8 voted to discontinue their contract with the Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department for fire protection services in unincorporated areas outside the city of Quinlan, officials said.
The decision followed a series of incidents involving the volunteer department, including a March 2025 house fire on North Shore Road that claimed three lives, prompting families of victims to ask county leaders for a review of the department’s response.
Commissioners also referenced a crash earlier in 2025 involving a department fire truck, saying the collision raised questions about readiness, training and maintenance of equipment, though specific details of the crash have not been released publicly.
The move affects fire protection services in unincorporated rural areas; response within the Quinlan city limits by the South Hunt County Fire Department continues separate from the county contract.
Officials said existing fire protection services will remain in place during a 90-day transition period while commissioners work to identify a long-term solution for residents in the impacted areas.