When sirens go of,  whether it's police, fire,  or EMS  getting to the scene quickly is the only thought that fills these emergency responders minds.

Tim Smith of the West Carlise Fire Department says when they have a call it's time to go.

"When pagers go off, we have to go," says Smith.

The vehicles that take them there are one of their most crucial pieces of equipment and in recent months have become the most expensive to run.

Gas prices are not just a topic of conversation. They're a serious concern.

Greg Bruce, Vice President, of UMC says fuel costs have impacted EMS.

"It's impacting Lubbock EMS significantly. In the first quarter we saw a 28% increase in what we spent this time last year," says Bruce.

"It's really taking a bite out of things, haven't started limiting things such as school functions, show and tells or parades, but I feel that time is rapidly approaching," says Smith.

Lubbock EMS and the West Carlisle Volunteer Fire Department are agencies under the Lubbock County umbrella.

The City of Lubbock is having the same fuel problems, but on a much larger scale.

Based on financial wholesale predictions for the 2007 - 2008 fiscal year,  the city budgeted $2.38 a gallon for regular gas and $2.41 for diesel.

Andy Burcham from the Fiscal Policy and Strategic Planning says it's not predictable.

"It is a crystal ball type of thing. You never really know what is going to happen," says Burcham.

That crystal ball is way off. The city most recently paid $3.18 for regular fuel and $3.52 for diesel more than a dollar more than what is budgeted.

City financial officers say the cost increase is so substantial they are having to take extreme measures to balance the budget.

"The expense side for the city is heavy on personnel. We are managing- any vacancies we have except for public safety. Managing all those vacancies to help offset increase in cost," says Burcham

Andy Burcham is the city's go to guy for numbers.

He says if gas continues to climb as predicted the hiring freeze won't be enough to offset the additional costs.

"If taxes stay level or if all revenues stay same or even slight increases. It still limits us, because we can't always absorb the increase in costs if we don't have a tax increase," says Burcham.

Until the city figures out the fuel problem, conservation is key.

It's a requirement that officer Clint Lewis show up to briefing  with a full tank of gas.

"If we were to get in pursuit and didn't have much gas it wouldn't be good to run out of gas," says Lewis.

He says he increases his mileage by 10%  just keeping his cruiser fully gassed.

It's an idea many officers have caught on to.

"Sometimes I come over here be four or five officers," says Lewis.

Patrol cars  drink up a big portion of the city's fuel budget. Some attribute the cost to LPD's fleet car program.

"A lot of people may look at that and think that's a way to save money is to do away with the fleet car program, but you have to look at overall costs. Our cars last a lot longer. They are better taken care of then vehicles driven around the clock. each vehicle is driven eight hours a day for five days a week versus 24 hours a day seven days a week which is what most city's deal with," says LPD's Greg Stevens.

Fire Chief Rhea Cooper says if he could buy a green fuel efficient fire truck he would.

But he's faced the fact that diesel.It will forever be entwined with his engines.

"We aren't just driving up and down the road doing unnecessary things. We are either fighting fires or going to emergencies or training," says Cooper.

As the prices creep up and the budget continues to inflate every mile they drive becomes more important.

On the job emergency responders need to be on their toes thinking about fighting an inferno, helping a patient, or cuffing a criminal.

They  likely don't have fuel on their brain. Rest assured their bosses most certainly do.