At Starbase, SpaceX handles the firefighting itself

SpaceX is quietly forming a volunteer fire department to service the sprawling Starbase launch and manufacturing complex, tightening its control over emergency response at a site known for speedy — and sometimes… explosive – Missile development.

A Training certificate A filing submitted to the Texas Secretary of State on June 30 shows the creation of the so-called Starbase Volunteer Fire Department. The nonprofit entity lists its headquarters as 1 Rocket Road in Brownsville, which is SpaceX’s main address. Two of the three managers named in the filing are SpaceX employees: Cody Day, director of environmental health and safety, and Kevin Bagnall, in-house counsel. The affidavit was signed by another SpaceX attorney, Stephen Herndon.

The organization “will assist, encourage and provide for the establishment of systems and facilities to provide public safety education and fire prevention and suppression services,” the filing says.

SpaceX has historically dealt with fires at Starbase, which recently incorporated as its own city in Texas, through a combination of… Internal fire fighting and emergency response and assistance staff from local fire departments, such as those in nearby Brownsville.

It’s not clear what impact the new volunteer fire department will have on those outside relationships, and when asked, Cameron County directed TechCrunch to file a Public Information Act request. At press time, Cameron County had not responded to this request.

SpaceX, Brownsville Fire Department and Starbase city officials did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.

It is also unclear if the Starbase Volunteer Fire Department is connected to the county’s 911 dispatch system. Because it is a volunteer fire department, it is not regulated by the Texas Fire Protection Commission, which is only authorized to regulate local government fire departments, agency Chief Mike Wesko said.

The new volunteer fire department was established a few months after Starbase became an officially registered city in Texas. That has prompted SpaceX and Starbase city officials — most of whom are current or former SpaceX employees — to exercise more authority over their corner of Texas. City announced the company in September Deal with Cameron County to take partial control of the beach Near the launch complex. Starbase installed gateways in June Controlling public access to the city.

The formation of the new volunteer fire department coincided with the end of a separate arrangement: SpaceX funding for an emergency fire site within Cameron County.

During a commissioners meeting on August 26, officials acknowledged that SpaceX was funding a firefighter within the county’s Office of Emergency Management. “There was a position that was being funded through a services agreement with SpaceX. That contract… will be terminated,” Deputy County Manager Xavier Villarreal told commissioners.

He said the county is in the process of continuing to fund the fire marshal position with a new partner, liquid natural gas developer NextDecade.

A firefighter’s duties include reviewing plans and inspecting buildings to ensure they comply with fire safety. SpaceX may have funded the position, which Villareal admitted was for “inspections” and permits, in order to ensure the county could keep up with the increased workload as construction surged. Villarreal did not respond to email requests for comment.

Starbase is now responsible for overseeing the fire code. The city hired two people from the same fire plan review firm and building inspection company, SAFEbuilt, to do the job. Cliff Nevins was named fire chief and Wade Cain was named construction official.

Combined, the new volunteer fire department and two SAFEbuilt designations indicate that Starbase has embraced fire code approvals, using a vendor it hires as it transitions emergency response to a corporate organization.

This is different from the way New Starbase City handles law enforcement. The city of the company has Arranged a deal with Cameron County Two sheriffs will patrol Starbase on each shift. Starbase also has access to county jails at a cost of $100 per inmate per day.

The different approach has turned at least one local’s head. In response to Starbase terminating its firefighter funding agreement at the August meeting, one commissioner responded: “But they can’t hire police officers? That’s interesting.”

Starbase’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget allocates just $60,000 for the volunteer fire department, a modest amount compared to the $1.3 million allocated to law enforcement contracts with the county. This disparity suggests that SpaceX itself may be footing a significant portion of the bill for equipment and other expenses.

The shift comes as SpaceX continues to expand launch operations at Starbase. SpaceX’s rapid prototyping development approach has led to a number of fires and explosions at the facility. In June, after a test launch of the company’s Super Heavy booster, it malfunctioned It sparked a dramatic fireball It was visible for miles and in panic caused nearby residents to flood local communications with calls. No injuries were reported.