What is an ESD? ESD stands for Emergency Services District. Bastrop/Travis Counties ESD No. 1 is one of these districts. It is a government entity. The district is the financial arm for the Elgin and McDade Fire Departments and the Medical First Responder unit. The ESD is not a part of the school district or the City of Elgin. The B/TC ESD is one of just a few located in more than one county. The multi-county districts’ boards of commissioners are elected by voters of the counties they are in. A district located in just one county has its commissioners ...