Keene Fire Rescue

08/28/2026

08/27/2026

Meet our new Fire Marshal, Archie Gerbine! We’re excited to welcome Archie to our Keene Fire Department, and we are grateful for his contributions in helping keep our residents, businesses, and community safe.

08/26/2026

Due to the Ross Fire in Palo Pinto County, smoke is impacting much of Johnson County, including our community. Keene Fire Rescue has made rounds throughout the city to check conditions, and Johnson County has also dispatched resources to monitor the situation. At this time, there is no active fire threat to Keene. We will provide updates as conditions change.

08/23/2026

08/20/2026

On August 12, a helicopter crash in Bell County resulted in a large fire that quickly grew out of control. Approximately 100 law enforcement personnel representing nine agencies from across Texas assisted with the response. We extend our thoughts and condolences to those who were injured or lost their lives in the incident, as well as their families and loved ones.

Among the first responders were two Keene firefighters who were on a two-week deployment with the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS), which is maintained by the Texas A&M Forest Service. TIFMAS coordinates local fire and rescue resources to respond to major disasters across the state, including wildfires, hurricanes, and floods.

As part of this partnership, the Keene Fire Department may occasionally send personnel and a fire apparatus to assist with statewide emergency response efforts. In return, TIFMAS reimburses the City for all associated deployment costs. This partnership allows us to support our extended Texas community during times of need while providing our firefighters with valuable experience and resources to better equip them to serve.

08/19/2026

Last night, the Keene Fire Department responded to an incident in Johnson County involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck at FM 917 and FM 2280. Our firefighters and police officers assisted at the scene and helped care for the patient until they could be transported by helicopter to a hospital for further treatment. We’re grateful to our firefighters and all of the first responders who worked together to provide care and assistance.

07/30/2026

This past week, Keene Firefighter Sean Gibson was promoted to Fire Engineer. His promotion comes after successfully completing an interview/verbal assessment by an interview panel and a competitive skills examination to earn this position. Congratulations, Sean, on this well-deserved achievement!

07/29/2026

The Johnson County Commissioners Court has issued a countywide burn ban effective July 29, 2026. This ban remains in effect until October 27, 2026, or until rescinded. We appreciate everyone's cooperation as we work together to keep our community safe.