Texas Firefighters Battle Fire Involving Several Structures

At 15:14 on 8/5/03, the Keene VFD was dispatched to a fire north of town at an unknown location. By the time a crew had arrived, the location had been pinpointed approximately 7 miles northwest of town involving several structures.

Seeing the heavy black smoke from town, the incident commander requested mutual aid from 4 other area fire departments.

Upon arrival Keene found a horse barn, a shop building and a gooseneck travel trailer involved in flames. The second engine on the scene was from Briar Oaks VFD which staged on the road to act as a relay water truck as there were no fire hydrants in the rural county. The third engine was from Keene VFD. Fourth and fifth engines were from the Joshua VFD and a tanker truck from the Burleson FD.

18 firefighters were alternating in shifts due to the extreme heat. One firefighter was treated for mild heat exhaustion.

Johnson County Emergency Support Services provided water, Gatorade, and food at the scene. Keene ambulance crew provided medical attention. The mop-up was completed at 17:53.