A bill that will allow firefighters to legally transport patients to the hospital is on its way to becoming law in the state of Texas.
This week, Gov. Greg Abbott officially signed House Bill 624 into law but it won’t take effect until Sept. 1. It will have the most significant impact in rural parts of Texas that are hard to reach by ambulance, such as the East Texas region.
People hear it every day -- firefighters rushing down the road, responding to an emergency.
“We're gonna respond to most medical calls, any fires, any wrecks, rescues,” said Flint-Gresham Fire Department Assistant Chief Keith Tate.
They are often first on scene and in certain rural areas firefighters respond quicker than ambulances. But under Texas law, it was illegal for firefighters to transport people to the hospital, even if they are in critical need.