Small-Town Texas Firefighters Deploy 48 Days This Year

When floodwaters rise in Texas, a small team from Gainesville is often among the first to answer the call.

The Gainesville Fire-Rescue Swift Water Team consists of just 12 firefighters, but they're punching far above their weight. As part of Texas A&M Task Force 1, they're one of only 28 urban search and rescue teams deployed statewide. They're also the smallest department in the entire network.

"Believe it or not, we probably are one of the smallest departments in the State of Texas that is part of Texas A&M Task Force 1," said Captain Randy Prestage, the team's water squad leader.

The team was born from tragedy. After catastrophic flooding devastated Gainesville in 2007, local firefighters knew they needed to be ready. They created the Swift Water Rescue Team to protect their community and help others when disaster strikes.

That decision has paid off. The team has spent 77 days deployed in 2024, 59 days in 2025, and already 48 days so far this year.

When Kerrville flooded last month after 28 inches of rain fell overnight, five Gainesville firefighters headed south. They were among the first teams selected to deploy.

"A lot of times, the phone would ring between 12 and 4, and we were out on the road moving from place to place going to different cities for evacuations or rescues," Prestage recalled.

No two rescue missions look the same. Sometimes they wade through waist-deep water to reach someone stranded in their car. Other times, they navigate boats through rushing currents right up to flooded homes, pulling people to safety with only seconds to decide.

"Risk a lot to save a lot," Prestage explained. "We're not going to risk a lot to save a little. And we let the situation dictate to us what we're going to do or what we can do."

Why This Inspires

These firefighters didn't have to join an elite task force on top of their regular duties. They chose to train harder, deploy more, and serve bigger. They turned their own community's tragedy into a force for helping others across Texas.

Prestage watches his team work in dangerous conditions with a mix of pride and respect. They're fearless when lives hang in the balance, but smart enough to make the right call when the water is rushing and time is running out.

For a small-town fire department, they're making a big difference when Texans need them most.