Louisville Division of Fire

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Louisville Division of Fire
Operational area
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CityLouisville
Agency overview[1][2]
EstablishedJune 1, 1858 (1858-06-01)
Annual calls46,782 (2022)
Employees501 (2017)
Annual budget$85,217,200 (FY 2023)
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefGregory W. Frederick
EMS levelBLS
IAFF54
Facilities and equipment[1]
Battalions4
Stations21
Engines18
Trucks4
Platforms1
Quints3
Rescues3
HAZMAT3
USAR2
Airport crash1
Wildland1
Fireboats2
Rescue boats4
Light and air1
Website
Official website
IAFF website

The Louisville Division of Fire, commonly known as the Louisville Fire Department or Louisville Fire & Rescue (abbreviated LFD or LFR), is the sole fire suppression agency for the city of Louisville, Kentucky and is one of eight fire departments within the Louisville-Jefferson County, Kentucky metropolitan area. The Louisville Division of Fire responded to 46,782 incidents in 2022. As of 2022 the Chief of Department was Gregory Frederick.

History[edit]

The Louisville Fire Department is the third oldest all-paid staff fire department in the nation. The first fire brigades established in Louisville were in 1780, two years after the city's creation. The first firehouses in Louisville were volunteer fire departments scattered throughout the city until June 1, 1858, when the city took control and replaced the hand engines with five steam engines and volunteers with paid staff. There were initially three fire stations, 65 full-time firefighters, and 23 horses.

Operations[edit]

The Louisville Division of Fire currently operates out of 21 fire stations, located throughout the city in 4 battalions. Each battalion is commanded by a battalion chief. The 4 battalions are under the command of a citywide tour commander each shift. The Louisville Division of Fire operates 18 engine companies, 8 truck companies (including 3 quints), 2 rescue companies, 3 HazMat units, 3 fireboats, 1 ventilation unit, 5 utility mule ATVs, and numerous special, support, and reserve units.

Rescue Company 2 (housed with, and staffed by, the crews of Engine 2 and Truck 1) provides high-angle and dive rescue services. Rescue Company 11 (housed with, and staffed by, the crew of Quint 7) provides trench and structural collapse rescue services. Hazardous materials incidents are handled by Haz-Mat Companies 1, 19, and 21. Haz-Mat Company 1 is housed with Engine 1 adjacent the Louisville International Airport, Haz-Mat Company 19 is housed with Engine 19 in the city's west side, near the Rubbertown area, which is home to many industrial plants, and Haz-Mat Company 21 is housed with Engine 21 on the city's northeast side, near downtown.

Stations and apparatus[edit]

Below is a list of stations and apparatus in use by the Louisville Division of Fire.[3]

Firehouse # Neighborhood Engine Company Quint Company,Tower Company,or Truck Company Special Units Chief Units Battalion
1 Standiford Engine 1 HazMat 1 3
2 Russell Engine 2 Truck 1 Rescue 2 (Water Rescue) Chief 5 (Tour Commander), Battalion 5 (Safety) 1
3 Bowman Quint 10 ATV 703 Battalion 4 4
4 Crescent Hill Engine 4 4
5 Downtown Engine 5 Tower 2 ATV 705 Battalion 2 2
6 Portland Engine 6 ATV 706 1
8 Klondike Engine 8 4
9 Smoketown Engine 9 2
10 Beechmont Engine 10 Truck 8 Battalion 3 3
11 Original Highlands Quint 7 Rescue 11 (Technical Rescue) 4
12 Hazelwood Engine 12 Rehab 12 3
14 Camp Taylor Quint 9 3
15 Shelby Park Engine 15 Vent 15 2
16 University of Louisville Engine 16 Truck 3 Air Utility 16 2
17 California Engine 17 1
18 South Louisville Engine 18 3
19 Park DuValle Engine 19 HazMat 19, Decon 19, Nozzle 19 1
20 Bonnycastle Engine 20 4
21 Butchertown Engine 21 HazMat 21, ATV 721 2
22 Shawnee Engine 22 Truck 4 Battalion 1 1
23 Kenwood Hill Engine 23 ATV 723 3

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "2013 Annual Report" (PDF). Louisville Division of Fire. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  2. ^ "History". Louisville Division of Fire. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Apparatus". Louisville Division of Fire. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.