By George Slaughter Katy residents and friends will celebrate the annual National Night Out, which is set for 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Katy Play Station and Pavilion at Katy City Park, 5611 Gardenia Lane. Katy has held an event for the past several years. Katy’s first responders will be there to meet and greet the public, with food and beverages served. The forecast calls for clear and comfortable weather, and the public is encouraged […]
Katy Fire Department
City Appoints Parker Fire Chief
By George Slaughter The Katy City Council Monday appointed Kenneth Parker as permanent fire chief. Parker had served as interim fire chief since last October, when former chief Russell “Rusty” Wilson took a similar position with the Mesquite Fire Department. “I’m excited,” Parker said in an interview. “I have been here in Katy and seen the growth. I feel very blessed to be given the opportunity to be chief for this city.” Parker said his […]
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Cause of Midway Bar-B-Que Fire
By George Slaughter Katy Fire Marshal Gregg Peterson and his staff are investigating the cause of a multiple-alarm fire that occurred early Saturday morning at Midway Bar-B-Que, 6025 Highway Blvd. Nobody was hurt in the fire. City Emergency Management Coordinator Greg Goedecker said Katy firefighters were on the scene at 2:58 a.m. Nine Katy units responded to the call, and firefighters from six other, non-Katy, departments were also involved in fighting the fire. Firefighters had […]
Looking Back: Wilson, Mayors Reflect on Katy Fire Department Tenure
By George Slaughter Russell Wilson, the former Katy fire chief, is taking the same job in Mesquite, but before leaving he took some time to reflect on his Katy tenure. Wilson submitted his resignation to Mayor Bill Hastings October 9. Wilson’s last day was Friday. Hastings said he did not know of Wilson’s plans when Wilson gave his notice. He said he later learned of Wilson’s plans to take the Mesquite position. Coming to Katy […]
Katy Fire Chief Russell Wilson Resigns
By George Slaughter Katy Fire Chief Russell Wilson resigned Friday, Mayor Bill Hastings said in a news release. No reason was given for Wilson’s resignation. Wilson’s last day on the job will be October 23. Efforts to reach Wilson for comment Friday were unsuccessful. Hastings said Assistant Fire Chief Kenneth Parker will serve as interim chief. Wilson came to Katy in 2016, recruited by then-Mayor Fabol Hughes and other city officials, from Irving, where he […]
Council Honors Katy Police Officers and Firefighters
By George Slaughter The Katy City Council Monday recognized Katy police officers and firefighters for service above and beyond the call of duty. Mayor Bill Hastings read a proclamation detailing four events in which officers and firefighters acted quickly to save lives. On March 30, firefighters responded to a 49-year-old who was in cardiac arrest, and administered cardiac life support measures. Responders included Chad Dismukes, Chris Edwards, Andrew Kruut, Scott Musgrove, Katelyn Rhodes, Bill Valenzuela, […]
Katy Professional Firefighters Association Raises, Awards Scholarship Money at Pancakes with Santa Event
By George Slaughter Santa Claus brought lovely weather for the second annual Pancakes with Santa, sponsored by the Katy Professional Firefighters Association Saturday morning at the Katy Fire Department, 1417 Avenue D. But the association brought checks for its first two scholarship recipients. Proceeds from the breakfast pay for a Katy Independent School District student to attend EMT school, the fire academy, or paramedic school. At Saturday’s breakfast, the first two scholarships, for $2,000 each, […]
State, Insurance Officials Salute City’s Class 1 Insurance rating
By George Slaughter State and insurance officials Monday honored the City of Katy for achieving a Class 1/1X ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating, which Katy officials expect will help local homeowners and businesses save money on insurance thanks to improved fire protection. Jesse Williams, a public protection classification officer with the state fire marshal’s office, and Hugh Gibson, ISO community hazard mitigation manager, presented the plaques to Mayor Bill Hastings and Wilson on behalf of […]
Katy Fire Department’s Improved Class Rating Could Mean Lower Insurance Bills
By George Slaughter Katy city officials said Wednesday that Katy homeowners and businesses could save money on future insurance premiums thanks to a rating achieved by the Katy Fire Department. The Class 1/1X ISO (for Insurance Services Office) came after the ISO completed and sent its survey, review, and results to Katy Fire Chief Russell Wilson. He accepted the results and forwarded them to the state’s fire marshal, who is expected to issue a formal […]
City Honors Firefighters for Saving Drowning Child
By George Slaughter The City of Katy honored firefighters Monday night for their efforts in saving a drowning child. On Sunday, March 3 at 6:33 p.m., dispatch received a 911 call for a drowning three-year-old male at the Homewood Suites pool. The Katy Fire Department responded out of Fire Station #2 and arrived at the hotel pool in just 47 seconds. Firefighters and EMS immediately performed CPR and was able to revive the child. The […]