“The push for the 48-96 shift schedule is about firefighter health and wellness, period,” according to McCutcheon.
PLANO, Texas — The Plano Firefighters Association is advocating for a one-year pilot program that would change firefighter AND paramedic schedules from the current 24-48 hour shifts to a 48-96 hour schedule.
This new schedule would see firefighters work for 48 hours, followed by 96 hours off, as opposed to the current system of 24 hours on and 48 hours off.
Brad McCutcheon, president of the Plano Firefighters Association, argues that this change is crucial to keeping the fire department in line with modern needs.
“We’re not making decisions based on what we know now, we’re making decisions based on what we knew 20 years ago,” McCutcheon said.
The association has been researching this shift for five years and is pushing for the city to try it as a pilot program.
“The push for the 48-96 schedule is about firefighter health and wellness, period,” according to McCutcheon. He adds that the change would not cost any more money and would not be very difficult to implement.
He says the longer off-hours allow for consecutive days of restorative sleep, which he says is essential for maintaining peak performance on the job. McCutcheon tells WFAA that firefighters who are on the shift “feel much healthier, much better rested, they report better home-life, and their families report better home-life.”
However, city officials are concerned about the potential risks associated with the longer shifts, particularly the possibility of sleep deprivation. Plano’s fire department has seen a dramatic rise in call volumes over the past decade, from 23,000 calls in 2014 to 33,000 calls in 2024.
“The research shows that sleep deprivation has a direct and significant impact on performance. Fatigue can impair judgment, reaction time, and decision-making—critical factors when responding to emergencies where split-second decisions can mean the difference between life and death. City management has serious concerns about the additional risk of potentially sleep-deprived officers fighting fires or providing advanced medical care, especially if there are multiple calls that interrupt sleep,” read a statement from the city of Plano.
McCutcheon tells WFAA that the chief, assistant chiefs, association, and medical director are in favor of the pilot program. In response to the city’s contention about sleep deprivation and fatigue, he says, “[that we would be for] an unsafe initiative is really ridiculous, and frankly a little bit insulting.”
The association proposes tracking workplace accidents, injuries, and customer complaints to measure the success of the pilot program.
From the city’s perspective, it’s not a “no,” but a “not now.”
Six Collin County cities have implemented the 48-96 shift, including McKinney Fire. But departments like Frisco, Allen, and Wylie are on the 24-48-hour schedule.
“The city manager has committed to revisiting the schedule change request after station 14 has been considered by Plano citizens and if two other larger cities adopt this schedule. Given the anticipated increase in calls and the continued strain on the current staffing and resources, city management remains committed to ensuring both the well-being of our firefighters and the safety of our community. It is essential to explore all viable options while minimizing the risk of fatigue-related errors and maximizing the effectiveness of our emergency services,” read a statement from the city.
