Established 1969 Staffing paid and volunteer Stations 2 | Employees 65 EMS level ALS Engines 3 | |
The Union Fire Protection District, abbreviated UFPD and also known as Union Fire/Rescue, has primary responsibility for fire suppression & emergency medical services for the city of Union, Kentucky and outlying areas. The Union Fire Department was established in 1969. The Union Ambulance District was founded September 10, 1989. The two departments were united in 2000.
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Today UFPD operates 3 engines, 1 aerial ladder truck, 3 ambulances, 2 tankers, 1 brush truck, 1 Utility truck, and 3 command vehicles out of two stations. The department also has a 35-foot fire safety trailer acquired with a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Fire Chief is currently Chief Michael Morgan.
Retired Apparatus
Controversy
On 3 May 2012, fire crews responded to a home in Union, near Station 2. Firefighters were required to truck in water using one of the two tankers the department has. The family assumed that because they lived across the street from a fire hydrant, that it could be used. Upon being asked by reporters, Chief Michael Morgan replied " Believe it or not, the hydrants here on Beaver Road cannot be used due to the water pressure being too high." The Boone County Water District has provided an apparatus for the UFPD to use. When asked about why the apparatus was not used, Chief Morgan replied simply, " The apparatus provided by the water district does not lower the pressure enough." The issue remains to this day.
Bill's Carpet fire
On January 21, 2012 Union firefighters responded to a carpet shop on Longbranch Road in Union. Finding a bigger fire than expected, more crews from Burlington, Hebron, Erlanger, and Walton were dispatched. The Florence Fire/EMS Department had already deployed to the fire. TANK buses were brought in to serve as rest areas for crews, which rotated approximately every 15 to 20 minutes.