MESSAGE FROM THE FIRE CHIEF
I am pleased to present the City of Forney Fire Department’s 2025 Annual Report. This report highlights the department’s accomplishments over the past year while also providing insight into the initiatives, investments, and priorities that will continue guiding our department into the future.
As Forney continues to experience rapid growth, our firefighters and staff remain committed to delivering high-quality emergency response, fire prevention, public education, and community services with professionalism, integrity, and compassion. Whether responding to emergencies, conducting inspections, providing fire prevention education, or engaging with residents at community events, our department remains focused on serving the community with pride and a commitment to excellence.
In 2025, the department responded to more than 9,000 calls for service, maintained the City’s ISO Class 1 rating, continued progress on the Fire Station No. 2 renovation and expansion project, expanded community outreach efforts, and recognized several members for outstanding service and lifesaving actions. These accomplishments reflect the dedication, training, and teamwork demonstrated by every member of the Forney Fire Department.
This report also highlights the strong partnerships that help make our success possible, including the support of the Mayor and City Council, City Administration, Kaufman County ESD #6, community organizations, local businesses, and the residents we proudly serve.
The Forney Fire Department remains committed to doing Whatever It Takes to protect life, property, and the values that make Forney home. I am incredibly proud of the men and women of this department and grateful for the trust our community places in us each day.
Respectfully,
John Holcomb
Fire Chief
Forney Fire Department
CITY OF FORNEY
City Administration
Charles Daniels - City Manager
Karl Zook - Assistant City Manager
Jon Thatcher - City Attorney
Rosa Rios - City Secretary
City Council
Jason Roberson - Mayor
James Traylor - Place 1
Cecil Chambers - Place 2
Jay Weatherford - Place 3
Sarah Salgado - Place 4
Zahnd Schlensker - Place 5
Greg Helm - Place 6, Mayor Pro Tem 76 SQUARE MILE
Incidents by Month
Percentage of Incident Types
OUR MISSION & VISION
MISSION STATEMENT
The Forney Fire Department’s mission is to serve our community as family responding with courage, compassion, and integrity to every call for help. Through teamwork, training, and dedication, we will do Whatever It Takes to protect life, property, and the values that make Forney home.
VISION STATEMENT
The Forney Fire Department envisions a community where firefighters and citizens stand as one family bound by trust, compassion, and service. We are committed to protecting life, property, and each other with unwavering courage and integrity, doing Whatever It Takes to make Forney a safer, stronger home for all.
CORE VALUES
F
AM
– Faithfulness: We are loyal to our mission, our team, and our community.
– Accountability: We take responsibility for our actions and uphold the highest standards of integrity.
– Motivation: We approach every challenge with dedication, pride, and a drive to improve.
I
– Integrity: Honesty and ethical service guide everything we do.
L
Y
– Loyalty: We stand united as one family, committed to our duty and each other.
– Yielding Service: We put others before ourselves, doing Whatever It Takes to serve.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Fire Chief Emergency Services
ABOUT THE FORNEY FIRE DEPARTMENT
John Holcomb Fire Chief
Russell Bannister Emergency Services Deputy Chief
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Chad Baker - A Shift Battalion Chief
Matthew Lobban - B Shift Battalion Chief
David Lawson - C Shift Battalion Chief
Chad Baker Battalion Chief
Lobban Battalion Chief
SUPPORT SERVICES
Chase Richardson - Fire Marshal
Christian Keith - Deputy Fire Marshal
Tommy Chapman - Fire Investigator
Craig Malouf - Fire Inspector
Brian Jones Support Services Deputy Chief
STATIONS
Matthew
Valarie Mills Administrative Coordinator
David Lawson Battalion Chief
2025 INCIDENTS & CALL VOLUME
CALL VOLUME COMPARISON
7,794
9,628
9,011
FIRE MARSHAL DIVISION
The Fire Marshal’s Office supports community protection through key mission areas that include code enforcement, fire inspections, public education, and fire investigations. The office works to ensure compliance with adopted fire and building codes, conducts commercial and residential fire safety inspections, reviews plats and development plans, and issues permits to support responsible development.
In addition to enforcement and investigative responsibilities, the Fire Marshal’s Office provides fire prevention education and community outreach programs. The division also offers car seat education and installation training for caregivers who live within the City of Forney or the Forney ISD boundary. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians meet with caregivers by appointment to provide handson instruction, ensure proper installation, and promote the safe use of child passenger safety seats.
The Fire Marshal’s Office investigates the cause and origin of fires that result in property damage to determine contributing factors and to support ongoing prevention and public safety efforts.
Chase Richardson
Christian Keith Deputy Fire Marshal
Tommy Chapman Fire Investigator
Craig Malouf Fire Inspector
ISO CLASS 1
The Forney Fire Department has maintained an ISO Class 1 rating since 2017, placing it among the top fire protection agencies in the nation for staffing, training, emergency communications, and water infrastructure. This designation can help lower insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses while enhancing Forney’s competitiveness for economic development. Most importantly, it reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to delivering the highest level of public safety for our community.
FINANCE - FY 26 BUDGET
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & PUBLIC EDUCATION
In 2025, the Forney Fire Department participated in more than 90 public outreach events, engaging an estimated 19,741 community members. These figures do not include participation in the Fired Up For Reading program and its related activities.
Station Tours: Basic fire safety education is taught to children by firefighters during station tours.
Brew with the Crew: FFD hosted multiple public engagement opportunities for residents to connect with fire department personnel, ask questions, and tour an engine.
Fired Up For Reading: The Forney Fire Department collaborated with Forney ISD and community partners on an 8-week reading challenge designed to inspire a love of reading among students in grades 1 through 12. Through this initiative, Forney ISD students collectively read more than 4.6 million minutes. Thanks to the combined efforts of Forney ISD, the Forney Education Foundation, Walmart, Atmos Energy, Buttermilk Sky Pie, and Nothing Bundt Cakes, students were motivated through a variety of incentives, including firetruck rides to school, lunch with firefighters, gift cards, and other rewards. Grand prize winners received bicycles generously donated by Walmart.
Fire Prevention Month: Throughout the month, FFD personnel visited local schools and daycares to teach fire safety and prevention to students of all ages.
Community Events: Participated in several community events to engage with residents and share fire prevention education.
FIRE STATION 2 RENOVATIONS
PROJECT SCOPE
This project includes renovations to the existing active fire station along with the addition of a new apparatus bay, exercise room, training stair tower, and equipment areas. New parking for public and station staff, expansion of the drive approach both at the front of the station and the back of the station. Relocation of some existing utilities and changeover from propane to natural gas. Interior renovations to the existing station will include new toilet/shower rooms, new bunk areas, painting all interior walls, replacing all flooring, and renovations to the kitchen and dayroom areas.
PROJECT BUDGET:
START DATE:
ESTIMATED COMPLETION: $7,700,000 JUNE 24, 2025
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS
The City of Forney maintains an outdoor warning system consisting of 12 siren towers strategically located throughout the city. The system is designed to alert residents outdoors during significant public safety emergencies, prompt them to seek shelter indoors, and direct them to monitor local media for additional information.
Sirens are activated for confirmed tornado or tornadic activity, hail measuring 1.25 inches or larger, or sustained winds of 70 miles per hour or greater. When activated, sirens emit a steady signal lasting approximately three to five minutes. The system is routinely tested on the first Wednesday of each month at noon, weather permitting.
What to Do When You Hear a Warning Siren
Residents will hear a steady signal of the sirens for 3-5 minutes. Seek shelter in an interior room in your home or office like a bathroom, closet, or other room. Avoid outside walls and windows. Use pillows or get under heavy furniture for protection.
Listen for essential emergency information on a battery-powered device. Don't call local fire or police agencies to ask why the sirens are sounding unless immediate assistance is needed. All local channels will interrupt programming to issue Tornado Warnings and advise you where the tornado is located.
Everbridge
In conjunction with the City’s outdoor warning siren system, the Forney Fire Department utilizes Everbridge to keep residents informed during emergencies and other important community events. Through the Community Alert Program, residents can receive timely notifications related to severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, evacuations, and other critical public safety information. Residents can sign-up for notifications by visiting forneytx.gov
KAUFMAN COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT #6
KAUFMAN COUNTY ESD #6
Kaufman County ESD #6 serves a large and growing population of residents who live outside Forney city limits. This area includes residential subdivisions such as Windmill Farms, Devonshire, Travis Ranch, and more. This ensures that families living outside of city boundaries remain connected, protected, and supported.
Prior to the formation of ESD #6, families living in rural Kaufman County were served by a small volunteer fire department. Due to population growth, ESD #6 was approved in 2001 by voters in the unincorporated areas outside Forney and is funded by property taxes, just as city residents pay for their emergency services.
ESD #6 is an independent governmental entity managed by five members of a Board of Commissioners, who serve two-year terms and are appointed by the County Commissioners. ESD #6 contracts with the Forney Fire Department to handle fire response services, as well as critical response for automotive accidents, ranch incidents, and other emergencies. The district also works with the Forney 911 system to provide quick response during medical emergencies.
ESD #6 plays a vital role in maintaining public safety and a high quality of life for families living outside Forney. It also helps keep home and business insurance rates lower by providing fire, emergency, and 911 services through full-time, well-trained professionals.
*Areas shaded in blue represent the Emergency Services District (ESD) jurisdiction.
PROMOTIONS
Driver Operator
Cooper Miller 5/12/2025 – Firefighter to Driver Operator
Ryan Upshaw 8/18/2025 – Firefighter to Driver Operator
Captain
Jeremy Hughey 3/17/2025 – Driver Operator to Captain
Josh Mosley 5/26/2025 – Driver Operator to Captain
Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal
Chad Baker 3/17/2025 – Captain to Battalion Chief
David Lawson 3/17/2025 – Captain to Battalion Chief
Chase Richardson 7/7/2025 – Fire Investigator/Inspector to Fire Marshal
Fire Chief
Brian Jones 5/12/2025 – Fire Marshal to Deputy Fire Chief
John Holcomb 4/1/2025 – Deputy Fire Chief to Fire Chief
C. Richardson
C. Miller
R. Upshaw
J. Hughey
J. Mosley
B. Jones
2025 AWARD WINNERS
Rookie of the Year: CJ Grogan
Firefighter of the Year: Justin Judd
EMS Provider of the Year: Justin Brasfield
Officer of the Year: Jason Jacobs
Driver/Operator of the Year: Jared McClung
Life Saving Award:
Joshua McCreary
Barclay Ford
Markus McCallum
Jon Mendoza
Cooper Brown
Bennett Stinson
Excellence in Service Award:
Jeremy Hughey
Joshua McCreary
James Lynn
Markus McCallum
Craig Malouf
Innovator Award: Colt Risher
Selfless Servant Award:
Kyle McAfee
Jonah Quintero
Russell Bannister
Valarie Mills
Unit Citation:
Truck 2 – A Shift
Fire Marshal’s Office
B Shift – Large-scale collision, multi-vehicle fires
A Shift – Wildfire event
Lifetime Service Award: Dana Curry – ESD#6 Commissioner
LIFESAVING AWARDS
FIREFIGHTER CAREY - LIFE SAVING AWARD
Firefighter Kenneth Carey was presented with a Life Saving Award at the June 3rd City Council meeting for his swift and courageous actions during a medical emergency on January 31, 2025. While in DeSoto, completing his paramedic school ride-outs, Firefighter Carey responded to a patient in full cardiac arrest. His quick thinking and calm response directly contributed to saving the patient’s life. The patient made a full recovery and was discharged after 13 days with no complications.
FIREFIGHTERS POWERS AND MATTHEWS - LIFE SAVING AWARD
During the October 21, 2025, Forney City Council meeting, Mayor Jason Roberson, the City Council, and Deputy Chiefs Brian Jones and Russell Bannister recognized Firefighters Lauren Powers and Hayden Matthews, along with CareFlite crew members Nicholas McCarty and Stone Phillips, for their exceptional, life-saving response to a medical emergency on August 28, 2025. After responding to a report of shortness of breath, the patient went into cardiac arrest, and the team quickly initiated CPR and advanced care, successfully restoring a pulse. The patient was transported to the hospital in stable condition and later discharged.
