LAMPASAS (July 11, 2012)--Lampasas County Fire Marshal Gene Harrison has retired after fighting fires for decades.

Harrison, who says he retired for health reasons, served with the Lampasas Fire Department for nearly 30 years.

According to a county office spokesperson, the position remains open.

Harrison's career began as a teenage volunteer for a Houston-area fire department and for a few years his morning commute consisted of driving from Houston to Lampasas a few days a week, one source said.

Harrison spent about as many years fighting fires Lampasas as he did in Houston.

The county says they plan to post the job opening in the coming weeks.