New Fire Chief Appointed

Yes because merger worked out so well for JCPD and LPD...if you tried to merge all of the FDs in Jefferson County it would turn into a super cluster-f**k

Yes a merger would seem like the way to go, except Louisville Fire & Rescue Department is an all Career Fire Department and also an IAFF Union. The 18 Fire Districts (Note Districts, not Departments) in Jefferson County, are mostly Combination Fire Districts (Mostly Volunteer Firefighters with some Career Firefighters, except for Dixie Suburban Fire District, which is a all Volunteer Fire District (Operating budget maybe around $100K) and Jeffersontown Fire District, which is currently an all Career Fire District. There were 21 Fire Districts at one time, Black Mudd Fire District & Edgewood Fire District merged with Okolona Fire District becoming OFD Station's 3 & 4. The most recent merger, South Dixie Fire District merged with Pleasure Ridge Park Fire District, becoming PRPFD Station's 7 & 8. The Firefighters of each district answer to the Command Staff, to the Board of Trustees for that specific fire district and to the Kentucky State Fire Commision. The Board of Trustees, answer in part to all of the following; the taxpayers of that district, the firefighters of that district, the Louisville-Metro Government in and the State of Kentucky Legislature.

Now one of the first obstacles is the fact that Jefferson County Fire service relys on Volunteer Firefighters, there is no way in this universe that the LFRD IAFF will let Volunteer Firefighters serve after a merger. Second, the city cannot afford to hire all of the Firefighters needed to staff the stations properly, if there were no Volunteer Firefighters and cannot afford the money needed to build the stations so that the ISO rating does not go throught the roof. Also, although there is a JCFS IAFF, it unfortunately does not have any bargaining power or extensive membership roll, as a matter of fact there are some Command Staff and Company Officers who think that if you are in the union, you are a "troublemaker" and will overtly create issues for those who are. Also, unlike LFRD, those in the JCFS have no real "job protection", they are have been reminded that Kentucky is a "Right to Work" State and there are others ready to take their positions.

Finally, there is difference in the KRS, JCFS is covered under Chapter 75 and LFRD is covered under Chapter 95. There quite a few serious pitfalls, barriers, politicians and so forth, not withstanding some taxpayers of each district, who would most likely protest, file suit and create a nuisance of themselves to keep a merger from actually ever happening. Now not saying that it will not happen or would not create a more efficient and uniform service, just saying that there would be quite a few more issues to overcome, than there were with LMPD & JCPD and LF&R EMS and JCEMS mergers. Now that all that is said, I would like it to happen, because I would like the job protection, fair & concise command structure and union bargaining, but I am not keeping my fingers crossed.

Oh please can we do that !!!!! It has worked out so well with the Police depts. NOT!!!!!!! It has been a disater from day one and continues to get worse by the day. We are already broke and were after the first few years and crime is thru the roof despite what the chief and his puppets lead everyone to believe . I say we demerge the pd's and then all of the experienced guys who retired or just simply got fed up can come back. Oh the mere thought brings a smile to my face. Believe me the fire departments dont want any part of merging..Hell the vast majority of Officers still dont want it