LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two fire districts in Metro Louisville will merge into one.
Buechel Fire-EMS will merge into Fern Creek Fire & EMS.
Jefferson County Fire officials said the plan has been in the works for a year and will help them better serve the community.
"Better training platforms, better management systems, better accountability from our inventory, our fleets, our facilitie," Fern Creek Fire Chief Nathan Mulvey said.
That is some of what can be expected soon, as Buechel Fire & EMS will become a part of the Fern Creek Fire Department.
Mulvey says response times, equipment and management response will now all improve under the merger.
"There really was no loss, it's all gain. The services really don't change, they're actually going to improve, your run responses, none of that stuff will change, we're actually probably going to be looking at adding staffing out of this, which would create a benefit to all those that we serve," Mulvey said.
Mulvey says this is also expected to help some of the staffing issues first responders have been experiencing.
"I'll be honest, it is a challenge across the board. I think the fire service and EMS service are starting to feel impacts," he said.
Neighbors in the Buechel neighborhood like Wanda Eisenback say she is excited to see the two joining forces.
"At least if one is busy, the other will come and they got our back. That is a big thing. A big plus for all of us," said Eisenback.
She says her family has experienced some of these longer wait times, although she understands the departments are doing all they can.
"My son here is diabetic. And it may take an hour. I've had my husband have a heart attack. And same thing, it may be an hour before they get there. And you know, they're trying to do their best," said Eisenback.
Mulvey says they are ready to get to work and says they won't be closing any of the current stations, rather just rebranding all six under the Fern Creek Fire name, keeping them staffed up and ready.
"We will have five advanced life support, ambulances, staffed 24/7, around the clock, those will be at five of our six locations," said Mulvey.
The district’s headquarters will be at 6200 Bardstown Road.
“Our community is our number one priority. Buechel and Camp Taylor are both rich in history and we plan on continuing that," Public Information Officer Jordan Yuodis said.
Here’s where the stations will be located:
- Station 2: 9409 Old Bardstown Road
- Station 3: 7700 Routt Road
- Station 4: 7200 Billtown Road
- Station 5: 4101 Bardstown Road
- Station 6: 4649 Poplar Level Road
The merger will take effect July 1.
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