Louisville Division of Fire

Last updated

Louisville Division of Fire
Operational area
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
State Flag of Kentucky.svg Kentucky
City Louisville
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 chief Brian C. O’Neill
EMS level BLS
IAFF 54
Facilities and equipment [1]
Battalions4
Stations 21
Engines 18
Trucks 4
Platforms 1
Quints 3
Rescues 3
HAZMAT 3
USAR 2
Airport crash 1
Wildland 1
Fireboats 2
Rescue boats 4
Light and air 1
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 2025 the Chief of Department was Brian C. O'Neill.

Contents

History

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

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 7 (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. Haz-Mat Company 21 is housed with Engine 21 on the city's northeast side, near downtown.

Stations and apparatus

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

Firehouse #NeighborhoodEngine CompanyAerial CompanySpecial UnitsChief UnitsBattalion
1 Standiford Engine 1HazMat 13
2 Russell Engine 2Truck 1Rescue 2 (Water Rescue), Utility 502Chief 5

(Tour Commander), Battalion 5 (Safety Officer)

1
3BowmanQuint 10ATV 703Battalion 44
4 Crescent Hill Engine 4Rescue 4 (Zodiac Boat)4
5 Downtown Engine 5Tower 2ATV 705, Utility 505Battalion 22
6 Portland Engine 6ATV 7061
8 Klondike Engine 84
9 Smoketown Engine 92
10 Beechmont Engine 10Truck 8Battalion 33
11 Original Highlands Quint 7Rescue 7 (Technical Rescue), MSAR 74
12 Hazelwood Engine 12Rehab 12, MSAR 12, Utility 5123
14 Camp Taylor Quint 93
15 Shelby Park Engine 15Vent 152
16 University of Louisville Engine 16Truck 3Air Utility 162
17 California Engine 171
18 South Louisville Engine 183
19 Park DuValle Engine 19HazMat 19, Decon 19, Nozzle 191
20 Bonnycastle Engine 204
21 Butchertown Engine 21HazMat 21, ATV 7212
22 Shawnee Engine 22Truck 4Battalion 11
23 Kenwood Hill Engine 23ATV 7233

See also

References

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