Texas Fire Dept. Eyes New Shift Schedule

- The Bryan Fire Department currently operates on a 24/48 schedule, meaning firefighters work 10 days per month. The proposed change was presented to the Bryan City Council in a workshop meeting on January 13, 2026. - Proponents of the 48/96 schedule point to a significant reduction in long-term fatigue due to the extended four-day rest period. This schedule also cuts annual commutes in half, from roughly 122 to 61 trips per year. - Conversely, a major concern is short-term fatigue, as studies have shown injury rates for firefighters are highest during the second day of a 48-hour shift. The high potential for sleep deprivation has led some experts to recommend against the 48/96 schedule for stations with a high overnight call volume. - A study of firefighters who switched to a 48/96 schedule found they reported sleeping more while on-shift and experienced less daytime sleepiness. The schedule can also increase the number of full weekends off from 17 to 26 per year. - For comparison, the Seattle Fire Department operates on a four-platoon system, with a schedule that consists of a 24-hour shift, 48 hours off, another 24-hour shift, followed by 96 hours off. - The 24-hours-on, 48-hours-off model is the most common firefighter schedule in the United States. However, the 48/96 schedule is growing in popularity, particularly among departments in western states. - Departments often implement the 48/96 schedule on a trial basis, with a 6-month or 1-year evaluation period that includes an escape clause allowing either labor or management to cancel the change. In nearly all documented cases, the vote to make the schedule permanent after a trial period is overwhelmingly positive. - The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) contains a unique provision for firefighters, allowing them to work up to 212 hours in a 28-day cycle before triggering overtime, which averages out to 53 hours per week.