Jefferson County Fire Service

Jefferson County Fire Department

Before 1947 Jefferson County Fiscal Court operated the Jefferson County Fire Department. The department operated three engine companies from three stations equally spread across the unincorporated county land.

Fire Taxing Districts

A chapter of Kentucky's codified set of laws, the Kentucky Revised Statutes allows for the incorporation of fire protection taxing districts in otherwise unincorporated areas. As the population of Jefferson County grew after the Second World War small communities began to believe the services of the county fire department were wholly inadequate for their growing needs. These communities secured the votes necessary to establish fire protection districts. The districts levied a tax based on a property owner's total real estate worth and allowed for more money to be available exclusively for fire protection. Eventually 21 separate districts were formed, completely covering all of Jefferson County outside of the Cities of Louisville and Shively. Since it was now unnecessary Jefferson County Fiscal Court disbanded the county fire department completely in 1964.

Mergers

City–county merger

The 2003 merger of Louisville and Jefferson County governments did little to affect the Jefferson County fire districts. Since the merger other non-official names for JCFS have been coined such as "Louisville Metro Suburban Fire" and the "Suburban Division, Louisville Metro Fire". Since Louisville Metro Government has no direct control over 18 of the 19 fire departments inside its boundaries, to refer to any fire department in the area as "metro" would be misleading and inaccurate. Although held by some to be pejorative, the term "Suburban Fire" is used exclusively by Metro Government to refer to Jefferson County Fire Service member districts.

The merger legislation permits the continuing existence of all governmental subdivisions of the county including cities and fire protection districts. It does, however, prohibit the incorporation of new ones. Consequently, and as a result of financial woes, several districts have chosen to dissolve and to be absorbed by neighboring districts. Strict mergers of districts are not possible since a new governmental entity would necessarily be created.

Of the original 21 fire protection districts, so far four have chosen to dissolve. Their tax revenue, areas, personnel, and equipment have been absorbed by neighboring districts. Those former districts had names that are still familiar: Edgewood, South Dixie, Black Mudd, and Dixie Suburban.

Black Mudd-Okolona merger

The Okolona Fire Protection District absorbed the Black Mudd Fire District in 2003. Black Mudd station 1 became Okolona station 3.

South Dixie-Pleasure Ridge Park merger

The South Dixie Fire District merged with Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District in July 2004. South Dixie station 1 became Pleasure Ridge Park station 7, and South Dixie station 2 became Pleasure Ridge Park station 8.

Edgewood-Okolona merger

The Edgewood Fire District merged with Okolona Fire Protection District in 2005. Edgewood station 1 became Okolona station 4. This station was closed and tore down in 2010.

Dixie Suburban-Lake Dreamland merger

Dixie Suburban and Lake Dreamland fire departments officially merged in July 2011. Dixie Suburban station 1 became Lake Dreamland station 3, which currently serves as a storage and training facility.

Organization

Member districts of JCFS include all departments within Louisville-Jefferson County organized under Chapter 75 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes.

Although not fire protection districts organized under Chapter 75 of the KRS the City of Shively Fire Department and Louisville Division of Fire often participate with JCFS in training.

The JCFS is not a distinct fire department per se but an umbrella organization coordinating cooperation between the many disparate fire districts within the county that by their proximity must work together efficiently. JCFS does not have a chief or any type of hierarchy and has no binding executive or legislative authority over its membership. Instead it comprises various committees and associations that specialize in areas that affect the fire service in Jefferson County as a whole.

Most of the Jefferson County fire districts wear the Jefferson County Fire distinctive insignia patch on the right shoulder of their uniforms.

Fire departments

The Jefferson County Fire Service is composed of 17 fire protection districts that collectively protect 333 square miles and 495,000 people, surrounding the original Louisville city limits.

Unit numbering system

Fire departments in the JCFS use a unified numbering system, that makes dispatching and radio transmissions a lot easier. The numbering system consists of 4 digits, and just by seeing these 4 digits, a firefighter can tell the department, the type of unit, and the number of the unit for any given vehicle. Many other counties surrounding Jefferson County in Kentucky also use this numbering system or a similar one.

The first and second digits of the 4-digit number represent the department. Department numbers include:

Defunct department numbers include 30 (Dixie Suburban), 35 (South Dixie), 44 (Edgewood), and 60 (Black Mudd).

Third digit

Old numbering system

The third digit of the 4-digit number represents the type of unit.

New numbering system

The JCFS has recently made official an updated numbering system. It is quite similar to the old numbering system, but with a few changes. Though most of the units that have to change their number have not done so yet, but they will do so soon.

The fourth digit of the 4-digit number represents the unit number. Some departments use the number of the station the truck is usually located at, while others pick and choose a number.

JCFS special teams

The Jefferson County Fire Service has special service teams that consist of members from various departments across the county. These special teams have their own tones and "department number". The JCFS Special Operations Team uses 2 "department numbers", 1 for their water rescue equipment trailers, and 1 for their collapse and trench rescue equipment trailers. While many departments carry special equipment in their own marked vehicles and trailers, the JCFS owns their own special equipment in JCFS marked vehicles & trailers. Though some trailers go under the "department number" of the department that owns the station it's located at, or have their own call-signs.

JCFS-owned vehicles and trailers

The JCFS owns 2 specialized vehicles (1 hazmat and 1 utility), along with many trailers carrying specialized equipment for special operations. Unit/Hazmat 6691 is currently located at and responds from Lake Dreamland Fire Protection District station 1, which has a close proximity to a local heavy industrial area known as Rubbertown. Unit 6691 is a 1993 Ford CF-8000/Betten that is ex-Jefferson County EMS. Unit/Utility 6697 is a utility that is located at and responds from Okolona Fire Protection District station 1. Okolona is centrally located along the southern border of Jefferson County. Unit 6697 is a 2001 Ford F-350/1977 E-One, with the chassis and cab being ex-Jefferson County EMS, and the body ex-South Dixie Fire Protection District. Unit 6697's main purpose is to pull trailers with special purpose/operations equipment.

JCFS Hazardous Materials Operations Team

The JCFS Hazardous Materials Operations Team consists of members from nearly all of the departments that are part of the JCFS.

JCFS Special Operations Team

The JCFS Special Operations Team consists of the JCFS's Water, Collapse, Trench, Confined Space, and Rope Rescue Operations Teams.

Stations and apparatus

Notes:

*Units with a * in the Staffed Rescue/Hazmat column are Cross-Staffed.

-Units with a * in the Auxiliary category are primarily auxiliary units, but will sometimes/rarely be staffed by volunteers.

-Some volunteer units will be used as reserve trucks if another truck breaks down and they need/opt to use that unit.

**- Fireboat 1291 responds from Limestone Marina, which is located just down the road from Harrods Creek Fire Protection District Station 2.

-Note that not all the utilities have been listed, some departments own quite a few more utility units.

Radio

Emergency and most government services in Jefferson County operate on one radio system, locally called Metrosafe. Metrosafe currently uses a Project 25 Phase 1 trunking system.

Radio channels

The Jefferson County Fire Service currently operates from multiple radio channels.

Mutual aid

The primary purpose of JCFS is to coordinate help and cooperation between the fire districts in fire suppression activities. The member district of JCFS have, through the years, integrated their response plans with one another to the extent that the districts de facto operate as one on the fireground. Newly adopted dispatching protocols disregard traditional district boundaries and direct the response of the closest, most appropriate fire equipment to a call for help. It is not uncommon to see fire apparatus from two or more districts on the scene of a routine fire call. Interoperability between the JCFS districts and Louisville Division of Fire is informal and the two organizations do not participate in the unified chain of command when operating together.

April 3, 2015 major flooding and 8-Alarm GE Appliance Park fire

GE Appliance Park has completely removed building 6 after the fire, and they currently have no plans to rebuild the building or build a new building on the site.

Fairdale Fire Department and the Fairdale High School Fire & EMS Academy

Fairdale High School offers a Fire & EMS program that introduces students to and prepares them for careers in emergency services. The academy often trains with local fire departments, and is active in the community. They have, for a long time, maintained a fully equipped and operational pumper. The current unit, Brutus II, is a 1990 Pierce Lance pumper with a 1500 GPM pump and a 1000-gallon water tank. This unit was donated by the Fairdale Fire District, where it served as Engine 9032.