The Rio Communities City Council is considering hiring a full-time chief and assistant chief to head the Rio Grande Estate Fire Department. The department has been under a volunteer administration since its inception in the 1960s. Rather than a fire chief and assistant fire chief, the council will soon decide on job descriptions for a chief EMS/fire rescue officer and an assistant chief EMS/fire rescue officer. The reason, according to City Manager Bob Skerry is because the RGEFD responds to more emergency medical situations than fire calls. He said because the department answers more medical calls than fire calls, he believes the two positions could be paid in part with the EMS gross receipts tax fund.