Established in early 1975, the Westlake Fire Department has been serving West Houston and the Katy area for 50 years.

Department staff, comprised of both volunteer and paid firefighters, will hold an open house at the station on Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to commemorate the milestone, Captain Joe Driver.

The celebration

The April 12 event will give residents the opportunity to see how much the department has grown "from where we started to where we are now," Driver said. It will feature the trucks and apparatuses staff use to fight fires; as well as a mechanical bull, bounce house, obstacle course, food, live music and giveaways.

Westlake Fire Department holds community events year round, Captain Joe Driver said. (Courtesy Westlake Fire Department)
Westlake Fire Department holds community events throughout the year. (Courtesy Westlake Fire Department)

Respecting the craft

Driver joined the organization in 2013 and became a captain in 2023, he said. His favorite childhood movie "Backdraft" ignited his interest in firefighting, and he credits the Westlake Fire Department for aiding in his professional development.



"Over time, the department has poured so much into me," Driver said. "Even though I don't live in the area anymore, I feel like I owe it to this community to pour back into the department."

Westlake Fire Department staff are on-call 24 hours a day and seven days a week. (Courtesy Westlake Fire Department)
Westlake Fire Department staff are on call 24 hours a day and seven days a week. (Courtesy Westlake Fire Department)

Who it's for

The Westlake Fire Department serves portions of West Houston. The territory is bordered by the westbound lanes of I-10 to the south and Clay Road to the north, and Barker Cypress Road to the east and Mason Road to the west, Driver said.

The fire department holds a Trunk or Treat event for Halloween every year. (Courtesy Westlake Fire Department)
The fire department holds a Trunk or Treat event for Halloween every year. (Courtesy Westlake Fire Department)

In addition to responding to emergencies in the area, Westlake firefighters host community events, such as Winter Fest and Trunk or Treat, throughout the year. Driver said this was the first fire department in the area to offer a summer camp for kids between 13-15.

The week-long camp, which is from July 21-25 this year, takes kids on field trips to different sites to show the diversity of emergencies firefighters respond to and also has them participate in hands-on activities.

The Westlake Fire Department has served residents in West Houston for 50 years in 2025. (Courtesy Westlake Fire Department)
The Westlake Fire Department has served residents in West Houston for 50 years. (Courtesy Westlake Fire Department)

Diving in deeper

The Westlake Fire Department has been governed by Emergency Service District 47 since January 2005, Driver said. ESD 47's jurisdiction covers 10 square miles, and is home to approximately 95,000 residents in ZIP codes 77449 and 77084, according to its website. The ESD is the funding arm for the fire department, allowing them to render assistance to citizens within its service area.