Bryan city council is asked to change firefighters working schedule

This podcast contains comments from the January 13, 2026 Bryan city council workshop meeting.The Bryan city council had questions, but expressed no opposition, to a request by a committee of Bryan firefighters to change their work schedule.There was a 60 minute discussion at Tuesday's council workshop meeting (January 13) to change the schedule of working 24 hours followed by two days off, to working 48 hours followed by four days off.Click HERE to read and download the summary of the BFD committee's report.BFD Lt. Walter Noel, who presented the department's yearlong study, says this will improve recruiting and retaining firefighters.The timing of the request comes as BFD tries fill 20 openings with a recruiting class that starts next week.Noel says the change is supported by 94 percent of those who respond to fire and ambulance calls.Also participating in the discussion was fire chief Richard Guisti. The chief and Noel fielded questions on subjects that included firefighter fatigue, where firefighters live, and other jobs that firefighters have.City manager Andrew Nelson says there will be additional input by other departments before final action is considered.