In 1896, when a fire broke out in Hutto, neighbors grabbed buckets and worked together to protect their community. That spirit of service became the foundation of Hutto Fire Rescue, which has evolved from a volunteer organization into a full-time emergency services provider with 83 full-time employees as of October 2026.
Today, as Hutto continues to grow, the department is expanding its facilities, investing in its firefighters and planning for the future while preserving the stories of the volunteers who helped build it.
What was it like serving as a volunteer firefighter and seeing how the department has grown?
For former Hutto volunteer firefighter Wimpy Gainer, serving the community was a family tradition. His father, Pete Gainer, was one of the department’s first documented fire chiefs. In the 1950s, Chief Gainer operated a service station at the corner of East St. and Hwy. 79, and the fire truck was kept just north of his business. When an alarm came in, he and fellow volunteer Charlie Hanstrom, who also operated a shop on East St., would both close their businesses to respond to fires and other emergencies.
Wimpy Gainer began volunteering with the department while in high school. He recalls a time when he and several friends, many of whom were also volunteer firefighters, were heading out of town on a trip to Colorado. They spotted a barn on fire, and rather than continuing their trip, the group of friends stopped to help extinguish the flames.
From the early 1960s until he left for college in 1968, Wimpy Gainer volunteered for the department. After returning to Hutto in 1976, he rejoined and continued serving his neighbors. He eventually worked for the Austin Fire Department, where he retired.
His story represents generations of residents who viewed volunteering not as an obligation, but as a natural part of caring for their community.
Tom Hines joined the Hutto Volunteer Fire Department in 1998, when the town had approximately 650 residents, and nearly every volunteer worked outside of Hutto. Hines initially became interested in the department because he wanted to know who would respond if his family needed help while he was working in Elgin.
For six years, he volunteered with the department, responding to emergencies, teaching fire prevention, maintaining equipment and participating in community events before accepting a full-time firefighting position.
“The most rewarding part was being able to give back to the community that had welcomed my family in,” Hines said. “Hutto took us in as neighbors, and serving on the department was my way of saying thank you.”
Today, Hines serves as the A Shift captain at Hutto Fire Rescue Station 1.
When the current Chief, Scott Kerwood, arrived in 2009, the department had four full-time employees, several part-time firefighters and approximately a dozen volunteers. At that time, firefighters responded to roughly 640 emergencies annually.
Today, the department has 83 full-time employees, and annual emergency calls have climbed to more than 5,300.
As call volumes increased and volunteers’ work and family responsibilities changed, maintaining the volunteer program became more challenging. By 2023, Hutto Fire Rescue had transitioned to a fully staffed career department and officially retired its volunteer program.
How is Hutto Fire Rescue preparing for future growth?
According to the department's demographic projections, the emergency services district currently serves approximately 73,000 residents. That population is expected to reach 93,000-95,000 by 2030 and 138,000-150,000 by 2035.
To prepare, Hutto Fire Rescue is planning additional stations and evaluating where emergency services will be needed most.
Upcoming projects include:
Station 5: Planned near FM 1660 and Main Hippo Dr., next to the new high school campus. In exchange for the land, the department has an agreement to partner with Hutto ISD to educate students to be firefighters through the school's Career and Technical Education program.
Station 6: Planned off of CR 132 near CR 134, in the area's growing concentration of data centers and technology facilities, with land already acquired.
Future expansion: Hutto Fire Rescue will continue planning for additional fire stations as Hutto and the surrounding area grow. Future station locations will be evaluated based on population growth, residential and commercial development, and the community's evolving emergency service needs.
Hutto Fire Rescue firefighters maintain a variety of certifications to support the department’s all-hazards response capabilities. All firefighters are certified emergency medical technicians (EMTs), while some hold additional paramedic certifications. Others have specialized training in areas such as hazardous materials response and wildland firefighting.
How does Hutto Fire Rescue stay connected to residents?
Hutto Fire Rescue’s work extends beyond emergency response. Through community engagement, fire safety education, school visits, partnerships with local organizations and various programs for children and adults, the department works to build relationships with residents and help them stay safe.
“Being involved in our community has always been a big part of who we are,” said Cassie Balderas, fire and life safety educator and public information officer. “Staying connected with our residents helps us better understand their needs and how we can best serve them.”
For Chief Kerwood, those interactions help reinforce that the department belongs to the community. Community members are invited to visit the fire stations and headquarters to meet the firefighters and staff and tour the trucks and facilities.
He also emphasized that community members should feel comfortable calling at any time, with any concern related to fire safety.
As the department continues to grow, its mission remains rooted in the same principle that inspired Hutto's first volunteers: showing up when neighbors need help.
More information about Hutto Fire Rescue can be found here:
Website: huttofire.gov
Phone number (call 911 in an emergency): 512-759-2616
Email address: [email protected]
Address: 1545 Chris Kelley Blvd., Hutto
Frequently asked questions
How many residents does Hutto Fire Rescue currently serve, and what is the population expected to be by 2030?
Hutto Fire Rescue currently serves approximately 73,000 residents, and the population is expected to reach between 93,000 and 95,000 residents by the year 2030.
When did Hutto Fire Rescue officially retire its volunteer program, and why?
Hutto Fire Rescue officially retired its volunteer program in 2023. As call volumes increased and volunteers’ work and family responsibilities changed, maintaining the volunteer program became more challenging. By 2023, Hutto Fire Rescue had transitioned to a fully staffed career department and officially retired its volunteer program. Additionally, the department had already hired its qualified volunteers.