Hunt County officials have decided to sever ties with the Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department, concluding a contract that will end in March 2025. The decision, made by a 3-2 vote during a Commissioners Court meeting, was driven by financial considerations and follows a series of criticisms aimed at the department, particularly in light of a tragic incident last year that resulted in three fatalities.
Commissioner Garry Smith, who initiated the motion to terminate the contract, emphasized that this decision was purely a business one. “This was a business decision for both the short term and long term benefit of the citizens of South Hunt County. Nothing else,” he stated in a text message to WFAA. Smith pointed out that another county-supported fire department would take over calls previously handled by Quinlan, and that the county is exploring the possibility of establishing a tax district to fund more professional fire services.
The Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department’s leadership expressed disappointment in the decision, with Fire Chief Brian Collinsworth criticizing it as “crooked politics.” He indicated that the department would be forced to shut down due to the loss of county funding, which they relied on for operations. Collinsworth did not provide an official comment through the department’s legal representative, who was unavailable for immediate response.
The Quinlan department faced intense scrutiny after a house fire in March 2025 claimed the lives of three individuals. Firefighters from surrounding departments publicly criticized Quinlan’s response, stating that they believed lives could have been saved had they been allowed to enter the burning structure.
“I think that at least two of them could’ve had a chance to be saved,”
said Tawokoni South Fire Chief David Rutherford, one of the first responders at the scene. He claimed he was ordered not to enter the mobile home, as Quinlan officials deemed it too hazardous.
Despite the backlash, representatives from the Quinlan department argued that investigations found no negligence in their actions during the fire. However, the department has faced challenges in recent years, including a probation period imposed by Hunt County Commissioners in 2021, after reports indicated they had responded to less than two-thirds of emergency calls. In a separate incident, two firefighters were hospitalized following a truck accident, which revealed that the driver lacked the necessary license to operate the vehicle.
The public response during the Commissioners Court meeting was divided. Supporters of the Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department, such as local resident James Arnold, voiced their support, highlighting the department’s assistance to his family during emergencies, including a kitchen fire just before the vote. “We’re proud of our volunteer fire department and we need to keep them,” Arnold said.
Conversely, Julie Bedwell, who lost her son, ex-husband, and friend in the March fire, urged the Commissioners to proceed with the termination of the contract. After the vote, she expressed relief, stating, “I got the justice I wanted. Now I know no other family is going to have to suffer like I have had to suffer.”
As the Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department prepares to cease operations, nearby fire departments will absorb the calls previously handled by Quinlan, marking a significant shift in emergency services for the residents of South Hunt County. The future of fire services in the area now hinges on the proposed tax district and the county’s commitment to enhancing professional fire responses.