UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1238
Page 1 of 3
XXXX 2/2/2023 1:10 PM Jacketed
A RESOLUTION recognizing the fire districts serving Jefferson County for their 1
excellent stewardship of public funds and their service in preserving life and property. 2
WHEREAS, while controlled fire was a constituent of the forging fires of 3
civilization, uncontrolled fires were its bane; and 4
WHEREAS, urbanization provided advantages to living such as trade, culture, 5
education, economic opportunity, and protection; and 6
WHEREAS, as the size and density of cities grew, uncontrolled fire was the wolf 7
that stalked city blocks, consuming people and property wantonly; and 8
WHEREAS, evidence of firefighting goes as far back as ancient Egypt, but history 9
records the first organized firefighting efforts under the rule of Augustus in ancient 10
Rome, with the first Roman fire brigade being created by Marcus Licinius Crassus; and 11
WHEREAS, in modern times, as people inhabit cities, suburban areas are also 12
increasing in density, and have been doing so notably since the post-World War II era; 13
and 14
WHEREAS, in Kentucky, the Legislature authorized fire protection districts to be 15
created to provide more focused fire protection for delineated areas; and 16
WHEREAS, these fire protection districts typically serve suburban areas not 17
covered by city fire departments, and provide better coverage for county fire 18
departments; and 19
WHEREAS, in Jefferson County, increasing populations in the suburban areas 20
made creating fire districts an attractive solution to the county-sponsored fire department, 21
so much so that in the mid-1960s, the county fire department was dissolved, leaving 22
firefighting to the many fire districts extant at that time; and 23
WHEREAS, in order to coordinate the many fire districts, the Jefferson County Fire 24
Service was created in 1947 and serves to provide mutual aid, standardization, training, 25
and dispatch of service; and 26
WHEREAS, at present eight fire districts are in operation in the suburban areas of 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1238
Page 2 of 3
XXXX 2/2/2023 1:10 PM Jacketed
Jefferson County, reduced from twenty-one in efforts to provide efficiencies of service 1
and offer value to the taxpayers of the county; and 2
WHEREAS, these fire districts have also ensured that the suburban areas of 3
Jefferson County have excellent emergency medical services; and 4
WHEREAS, the personal commitment required to become a firefighter has only 5
been heightened as training requirements have been enhanced over the years, and 6
potential exposure to personal dangers have only increased; and 7
WHEREAS, the commitment to run firefighting programs that are respectful of the 8
taxpayer dollar and that save lives and property has only been heighted as professional 9
and governmental standards demand more from administrative leaders; and 10
WHEREAS, the firefighters and leadership of the Jefferson County Fire Service 11
and the constituent fire districts continue to provide service in the manner of which the 12
citizens of Jefferson County and Kentucky are proud; 13
NOW, THEREFORE, 14
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 15
Kentucky: 16
Section 1. The Senate hereby commends the leadership and staff of the 17
Jefferson County Fire Service and the leadership, firefighters, and staff of the Anchorage 18
Middletown Fire & EMS, the Fairdale Fire Department, the Fern Creek Fire & EMS, the 19
Highview Fire & EMS, the Jeffersontown Fire & EMS, the Okolona Fire & EMS, the 20
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire & EMS, and the St. Matthews Fire & EMS for their exceptional 21
stewardship of public resources and for preserving in an outstanding manner the lives and 22
property of the citizens, property owners, and visitors of Jefferson County. The Senate 23
affirms that the role of a firefighter is an honorable one of which the sterling reputation 24
has existed throughout history, has been burnished in national tragedy, and is upheld in 25
the present day. 26
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit copies of this 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1238
Page 3 of 3
XXXX 2/2/2023 1:10 PM Jacketed
Resolution to Senator Julie Raque Adams for presentation to: Kevin Groody, Chief of the 1
Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS; Josh Underwood, Chief of the Fairdale Fire 2
Department; Nathan Mulvey, Chief of the Fern Creek Fire & EMS; Rob Dwyer, Chief of 3
the Highview Fire & EMS; Sean Driesbach, Chief of the Jeffersontown Fire & EMS; 4
Mark Little, Chief of the Okolona Fire & EMS; Jason Meiman, Chief of the Pleasure 5
Ridge Park Fire & EMS; and Nick Clark, Chief of the St. Matthews Fire & EMS. 6