As Forney continues to navigate a period of rapid development, the Forney Fire Department is operating at a heightened pace. In the newly released 2025 Annual Report, Fire Chief John Holcomb outlined a year defined by significant emergency response demands and a deepened commitment to community outr...

Forney Fire Department Reports Record Call Volume Amid City Expansion

The department handled 9,011 calls for service over the past year. Of those calls, 3,952 were medical in nature, while fire-related incidents accounted for 257 responses. The department also managed 895 traffic-related incidents and 994 alarm activations. Despite the increasing volume of work, the department maintained its ISO Class 1 rating, a key designation that reflects the city's high level of fire suppression capabilities.

Infrastructure and Community Engagement

Chief Holcomb emphasized that keeping pace with the city's growth requires both infrastructure investment and public connection. The department is currently moving forward with the renovation and expansion of Fire Station No. 2, a project intended to better position personnel to serve the evolving needs of the community.

Beyond emergency response, the department logged more than 90 public outreach events in 2025, reaching nearly 20,000 residents. A highlight of the year was the Fired Up For Reading program, a partnership with Forney ISD and local businesses. The eight-week challenge encouraged students from first through 12th grade to prioritize literacy, resulting in more than 4.6 million minutes of reading. Students were rewarded with incentives ranging from lunch with firefighters to bicycle prizes provided by local sponsors.

Other engagement efforts, such as the Brew with the Crew series and routine station tours, have become staples for the department as it seeks to maintain transparency and trust with the public.

Public Safety and Weather Preparedness

As part of its ongoing safety mission, the department continues to manage the city’s outdoor warning system. The network consists of 12 siren towers strategically placed throughout Forney to alert residents who are outdoors during severe weather.

The department reminds residents that these sirens are specifically designed to prompt people to seek shelter indoors and monitor local news outlets for further instructions. The sirens are activated during confirmed tornado activity, for hail measuring 1.25 inches or larger, or when wind speeds reach a sustained 70 miles per hour.

Chief Holcomb credited the department’s success to the collaboration between the City Council, Kaufman County ESD No. 6, and local stakeholders. He emphasized that as the city grows, the department remains dedicated to its core mission of protecting life and property.

“I am incredibly proud of the men and women of this department and grateful for the trust our community places in us each day,” Holcomb stated in the report.