KENTUCKY
Mar./Apr. 2024
Volume 2, No. 6
Story on page 6. - Photo courtesy of Lexington FD
Smoke Alarms Prove Their Worth ...Again See Story on Page 14
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Fire News, March/April 2024, Page 3
In this issue... Busy Month for Louisville
Serving Fire & EMS Heroes Since 1973
A quick stop in one case and a home destroyed in another.
FRANK C. TROTTA, Publisher/CEO TIM EDWARDS, Chief Operating Officer
See story on page 4
HazMat Call for Georgetown A container of ether crystallizes making it unstable and possibly explosive.
See story on page 7
Corydon Stops Trailer Fire Corydon, Cairo and Henderson stop a trailer fire in close proximity to two other trailers.
See story on page 10
Training for When It All Goes Bad Zoneton Fire District firefighters train for rescuing themselves or a fallen brother in a tight situation.
GARY P. JOYCE, Editor MYLES QUINN, Long Island Editor MARIE TROTTA, Vice President, Production LYNN SEDLER, Art Director CLIFF CHIESA, Production Manager BARBARA CONNOLLY, Vice President National Sales SUZANNE BANCROFT, Business Development Manager BRYAN LOPEZ, Editorial Assistant GREG JONES, Graphic Artist DENNIS WHITTAM, Editor Emeritus COPYRIGHT 2024, THE FIRE NEWS INC., LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Reaching 17 States with 14 Editions Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, S. Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, and Wildwood, NJ
See story on page 15 Proud Member Of:
Division of Forestry’s Chad Brothers Retires After 27 years on the job, Brothers calls it a career. See story on page 17
Owensboro Award Ceremony Some new personnel are welcomed and various awards are given out at a Station 1 ceremony. See story on page 20
PLUS: Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 16 Focus of the Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 18 Business Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 19
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Page 4, Fire News, March/April 2024
4 Displaced by Louisville Blaze
At 0151 on January 23, 2024, Louisville Fire Department crews were dispatched to a residential structure fire in the 2900 block of Alford Street. Fire crews arrived in four minutes to find heavy fire in the middle of the structure. Crews made an aggressive interior attack to extinguish the fire in 12 minutes. All searches of the structure were negative. The American Red Cross assisted four displaced occupants. - Photo courtesy of Louisville FD
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Fast Stop in Louisville
At 2250 on January 22, 2024, Louisville Fire Department crews were dispatched to a residential structure fire in the 2300 block of Lytle Street. Fire crews arrived on the scene within minutes to find heavy fire in two structures. Twenty-four firefighters were needed to fight the blaze, bringing the fire under control in roughly 15 minutes. The main fire building sustained extensive damage. Closely adjacent buildings on the property sustained minor damage. LFD Arson Investigators worked to determine a cause. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. - Photo courtesy of Louisville FD
Page 6, Fire News, March/April 2024
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Cover Story
Long Fight for Lexington Crews
Lexington firefighters faced harsh conditions at a recent fire. Upon arrival, flames were already through a partially collapsed roof, limiting the crew’s ability to attack the fire. Second and third alarms were called due to the size of the building, the amount of combustibles, and the physical toll the sub-zero temperatures had on crews. Firefighters on scene worked hard throughout the night and into the next day, before bringing the fire under control. - Photos courtesy of Lexington FD
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Fire News, March/April 2024, Page 7
HazMat Call for Georgetown
Georgetown Fire Department, along with EMA and Georgetown Scott County EMS, responded to a HazMat call at the Georgetown College Asher Science Building. When crews arrived, they were notified that a container of ether was found, and that part of the substance had begun to crystallize. When that occurs, the product becomes extremely volatile and possibly explosive if not handled properly. After ensuring the scene was safe and completely evacuated, crews were able to safely remove the material. We would like to thank the Lexington Police Department for sending their bomb squad unit to remove and dispose of the product in a safe, professional manner. Great work from all involved. Fire crews were able to quickly assess the situation, identify and safely mitigate the hazard with the help from multiple agencies. - Photos courtesy of Georgetown FD
Page 8, Fire News, March/April 2024
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Pembroke on Mutual Aid to Oak Grove
Pembroke crews (Chief Belair and Mini Pumper 1752 with FF. Scott) responded mutual aid to Oak Grove for a structure fire recently. - Photos courtesy of Pembroke FD
Page 10, Fire News, March/April 2024
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Corydon Trailer Fire Stopped
Recently, the Corydon Civil Defense, Cairo Volunteer Fire Department, and the Henderson City/County Rescue Squad responded to Center Street in Corydon for a camper on fire near other structures. CCD responded with Engine 554 and Tanker 565 with 14 firefighters. Upon arrival, heavy fire was reported from the camper, and three exposures were in danger. The fire was marked under control in approximately 15 minutes, with minor damage to the three exposures, but a total loss of the original fire camper. The fire was investigated by the Henderson County Fire Investigator. Other agencies assisting on scene were Deaconess EMS, Henderson EMA and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. - Photos courtesy of Neighbors/CCD; submitted by Bryan Coghill
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Fire News, March/April 2024, Page 11
Quick Work at Owensboro Owensboro crews were toned out for a reported structure fire in the 800 block of Greenbriar Street recently. Engine 3 arrived to smoke showing. Primary search and knockdown of fire occurred within 10 minutes of dispatch. - Photo courtesy of Owensboro FD
Residential Fire in Corydon On February 5, 2024, the Corydon Civil Defense Fire and Rescue, Cairo Fire Department and Henderson City/County Rescue Squad respond to the 100 block of 8th Street in Corydon for a residential structure fire. The fire appeared to have started on the living room couch, possibly by a charging laptop computer. The fire was contained to the living room and kitchen area. - Submitted by Bryan Coghill
All Hands Structure Fire in Hazard At approximately 0247 on January 23, 2024, the Hazard Fire Department was notified of a structure fire on Lyttle Boulevard. Crews were met with heavy fire upon arrival but were able to extinguish the blaze on both levels with an interior fire attack. - Photo courtesy of Hazard FD
Quick Response for Electrical Fire Recently, Louisville Fire Department crews were dispatched to reports of a structure fire in the 3100 block of River Park Drive. Fire crews arrived to find fire in the rear which had spread to the attic. It took 10 minutes for 25 firefighters to bring the fire under control. One person was displaced and one firefighter injured. The cause was electrical. - Photo courtesy of Louisville FD
Page 14, Fire News, March/April 2024
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Smoke Alarms Prove Their Worth Again
Recently, the Georgetown Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Fountain Avenue. Initial reports indicated there was a fire in the rear of the structure with children possibly trapped. Crews arrived quickly and found heavy fire and smoke coming from the back part of the house. All occupants were able to escape safely while fire crews quickly extinguished the fire. Occupants inside the home at the time of the fire indicated the smoke detectors alerted them and that’s what helped them escape unharmed. Great work 3rd Platoon! And thank you to GSCEMS, SCFD, and GPD for your assistance. - Photos courtesy of Georgetown FD
Staying Sharp on EMS Members of Perryville Fire Department drilled on EMS operations recently. - Photos courtesy of Perryville FD
TN, KY Wildland Fire Academy Many Kentucky Division of Forestry employees have spent several weeks as participants and instructors at the annual Tennessee and Kentucky Wildland Fire Academy held in Bell Buckle, TN. The multi-agency training academy provides specialized wildland fire training in everything from fire behavior to procurement to Critical Incident Stress Management. The division is one of five partners helping to organize the academy, alongside the Tennessee Division of Forestry, the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. Fire crews from outside these agencies are welcome to attend the training. This year marked the 20th year for the academy, making it one of the longest running wildfire academies in the nation. - Photos courtesy of Kentucky Division of Forestry
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Fire News, March/April 2024, Page 15
Training for When it All Goes Bad
Firefighters from the Zoneton Fire Protection District drilling on firefighter down/trapped scenarios. These included rescuing the firefighter along with self-rescue. - Photos courtesy of Zoneton Fire Protection District
Henderson Trains
Recently, Henderson Fire crews conducted drills at their training facility. The evolutions involved crews arriving at a fire scene and concentrated on the functions of the two first-arriving engines. The crew of the first engine pulled a 1-3/4 inch attack line to the front door while other personnel pulled a 2-1/2 inch attack line to protect
the neighboring structure. Also, a water supply was established using a five-inch supply hose. Simultaneously, the first attack crew entered the structure and extinguished the fire. Each crew took turns swapping out and operating in the various roles. - Photos courtesy of Henderson FR
Page 16, Fire News, March/April 2024
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Dealing with the Stress of a Stressful Job
Firefighters encounter significant daily challenges, leading to cumulative stress throughout their 20-plus-year careers. In the federally-funded “O2X Human Performance: Tactical Athlete Training & Education” workshop held at the Lexington Fire Training Academy, firefighters gained critical insights into managing chronic stress associated with public safety professions. The training also aimed to help attendees alleviate the mental and physical strain that may contribute to behavioral health issues, fatigue and burnout. Captain Kevin Deweese, from the Lexington Fire Training Academy said, “These workshops provide valuable education and resources, and
equip our firefighters with skills to support both the physical and mental well-being of the Lexington Fire Department. It marks a crucial first step in establishing a sustainable wellness program, enabling our members to thrive in their profession.” The workshop covered strategies to reduce the risk of injury, tools for optimal performance in high-stress situations, and education on nutrition, sleep hygiene, and fundamental movement principles - all tailored to address the specific training needs of firefighters. - Photos courtesy of Lexington FD
THE CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICES INSTITUTE (CFSI) HAS CHANGE OF DATE The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) has changed the date of the 34th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner. Originally scheduled for April 24-25, 2024, the program has been rescheduled for April 29-30, 2024. CFSI changed the date so we could conduct our program while Congress was in session. While CFSI selects the dates for the program five years out due to the demand for venues in the spring months, Congress releases the congressional calendar shortly before the start of a new legislative session. Unfortunately, the schedule recently released for 2024 has Congress out of session the week of our program. Each year, we aim to make the trip to Washington, DC, a positive experience for all our guests. The date change presents other opportunities for us to enhance the program. Whereas in the past, the dinner took place on Day 2, it will now take place on the first day (April 29), as will the seminar program. We will focus Day 2 (April 30) on Capitol Hill activities to maximize the fire service presence in Washington, DC, and send a strong message to our federal legislators about the political force of our nation’s fire and emergency services. Registration on our website opened on January 5, 2024. If you have any questions, you can contact us at update@cfsi.org. We hope to see you in April! Sincerely, Bill Webb Executive Director
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Fire News, March/April 2024, Page 17
Division of Forestry’s Chad Brothers Retires
The Kentucky Division of Forestry would like to congratulate Chad Brothers on his retirement. Chad’s last day with the division was January 31, 2024. Chad spent 27 years serving the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He has been a Forest Ranger in the
Hazard Branch (formerly KY River District), Madisonville Branch, and now the Morehead Branch. We appreciate Chad’s dedication and service to the division and to the citizens of the Commonwealth. All the best, Chad! - Photos courtesy Kentucky Division of Forestry
Talking About the Fire Service
Recently, Georgetown’s Chief Thompson and Assistant Chief Johnson had the privilege of spending the day at Georgetown Middle School to talk to students about the fire service. The students were engaged, asked really good questions and contributed to the conversation. Thank you to Ms. Kayah Ropar for the invite. - Photos courtesy of Georgetown FD
Page 18, Fire News, March/April 2024
Getting Ready for Freezing Temps
WDRB came by the Zoneton fire station recently to talk with crews about firefighting in cold weather. We are forecast to see belowfreezing weather coming and lingering for a while. Cold weather fires are very challenging for several reasons: they occur more often, road conditions can slow response down and snow can be treacherous to work in. Our fire gear is heavy and when frozen it makes it tough to move around. Firefighter hypothermia is also a worry, and gathering ice-covered tools and hoses can be difficult. - Photo courtesy of Zoneton Fire Protection District
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Patches From top: Jefferson County Fire, Danville Fire Department, Paducah Fire Department
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Fire News, March/April 2024, Page 19
Zoneton Fire District Recognizes Members at Annual Awards Dinner
Recently, some 31 Zoneton Fire District members were honored for accomplishments made during 2023. Our two most prestigious awards are the Rob Orkies Leadership Award and Garry Key Leadership Award. These awards are presented in memory of two long time Zoneton members who died in the line of duty. These awards are to recognize those members who have demonstrated leadership abilities throughout the year. This is an awards committee reviewed award after member nominations with input from the Orkies and Key families. The 2023 Rob Orkies Award recipient is Captain Steven Corbin and the Garry Key Award recipient is Battalion Chief Ricky Carlson. Unit Citation Award: This award is presented to a group of firefighters who responded to an extremely critical
and emotionally challenging incident. Despite the nature of the incident the responders performed at the highest level of professionalism and employed all their skills to afford the victims their greatest chance of survival. The recipients were: Firefighter Jordan Basham, Captain Steven Corbin, Lieutenant Matt Dachille, Deputy Chief Tracey Key, Lieutenant Keith Montgomery Chief Kevin Moulton and Sergeant Travis Riley. Recruit, Firefighter and Officer of the Year: These awards are based on peer nominations. This year's recipients are Recruit Firefighter Tyler Barrow, Firefighter Landon Milliner and Captain Dustin Headley. CPR/Life Saving Award: This award is presented to those members
who provided emergency medical care to persons who were pulseless and not breathing or sustained life-threatening critical injuries. The patient must have survived for at least 24 hours after transport to a medical facility. These members are: Firefighters Patrick Baker, Brandon Irvin, Landon Milliner, Nolan Gipson, Terry Maurer, Devin Hermes; Sergeants Chris Bischoff, Daniel Costigan, Wayne Mosely, Dusten Howten, Jarred Meadows, Travis Riley; Lieutenants Joey Allen, Keith Montgomery, Mat Dachille; Captains Dustin Headley, Steven Corbin, Major Tim Cockeril, Deputy Chief Tracey Key and Chief Kevin Moulton. Other awards were handed out for Exceptional Fire Run Attendence, Exceptional Training Attendence, Fire Prevention and Years of Service - Photos courtesy of Zoneton Fire Protection District
Page 20, Fire News, March/April 2024
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Owensboro Awards Ceremony
The Owensboro Fire Department hosted its annual Awards Ceremony at Station 1. The evening was kicked off with celebrating the pinning of our two newest Driver Engineers, Jared Peacock and Josh Sexton. We then handed out several awards across the department. These award recipients were nominated by members of the Owensboro Fire Department. Congratulations to the following award recipients: Rookie of the Year - Firefighter Justin Wheeler; Firefighter of the Year - Firefighter Doug Roth; EMS Responder of the Year - Firefighter Colby Smith; Engineer of the Year - Retired Engineer Steve Zoglmann; Officer of the Year - Lieutenant Joey Wright (who was unable to attend the ceremony). - Photos courtesy of Owensboro FD
Pembroke Assists at Garage Fire Pembroke crews (Chief Belair; Tanker 1760, FF. Fowler) and Mini Pumper 1752 (FF. Shirk) responded on mutual aid to Herndon for a vehicle fire in a garage recently. - Photo courtesy of Pembroke FD
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Fire News, March/April 2024, Page 21
Lexington HazMat Training
The Lexington Fire Department Hazardous Materials team serves a crucial role in ensuring public safety by responding to incidents involving hazardous substances. Their primary responsibility is to assess, contain, and mitigate the risks associated with hazardous materials spills or leaks. This specialized team is trained to identify the nature of the materials involved and implement appropriate measures to protect both the public and the environment. Additionally, they collaborate with other emergency services to effectively manage and resolve hazardous materials incidents. The LFD responded to 683 hazardous substance calls in 2023. This month, the training scenario focused on sampling and analysis of an unknown substance using a FirstDefender RMX monitor while in level A suits. - Photos courtesy of Lexington FD
Page 22, Fire News, March/April 2024
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Louisville Fire Rescue Airport Authority 50th Celebration
- Photos provided