Fire & Emergency Services

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Media Release 3-11-2010 

2009 - 10 Fire Department Awards Banquet

The Division of Fire and Emergency Services held its’ third annual Awards Banquet on March 6^th. The banquet honors personnel who were promoted, retired, or received special recognition. We also recognize citizens for their support and those who acted in selfless ways, sometimes in extreme danger to themselves. We were pleased to have Mayor Jim Newberry, Vice Mayor Jim Gray, and Council Members Chuck Ellinger, Donna Fiegel, and Doug Martin in attendance. Other dignitaries included previous mayor Teresa Isaacs, State Representative Kelly Flood, Safety Commissioner Tim Bennett, Mr. Gene Kiser from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, Mr. Bill Swope the State Fire Marshal, Assistant Fire Marshal Mr. Richard Peddicord, and retired Lexington Fire Chief Gary McComas.

28 personnel promoted in 2009 received their badges from Fire Chief Hendricks. 20 Sworn personnel and one civilian were recognized for their years of service. Speaking of service, Mrs. Betty Moses had a 37 year career! Also recognized were personnel who earned years of service pins for serving in a particular specialty such as EMS, Aircraft Rescue Firefighting, Technical Rescue, and Hazardous Materials. The highlight of the event are the Awards. Awards recognize such things as exemplary year long professional achievement by an individual or crew or a project which benefitted the division and/or our community. The highest awards are Citations and Meritorious Citations. These are for individuals, a crew, or a number of crews whose courage, thinking, and professionalism turned probable loss of life emergencies into saved life outcomes instead.

Along with the assistance of the Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association we are very appreciative of the generosity of our Banquet Sponsors. Their contribution consists of more than supporting the banquet. In more ways than one they contribute throughout the year to assist us serve Lexington and Fayette County with the finest emergencies services possible. The sponsors were:

2^nd Alarm ($500)

Gall’s Incorporated

Kentucky Safe Homes Coalition

Sonitrol of Lexington

Southern Communications

1^st Alarm ($250)

Bluegrass Fire Equipment

Central KY Firefighters Association

Creative Coach Sales

Kentucky American Water Company

PECCO Inc.

Turner Construction Company

Assistant Chief Rick Jordan

Private Alarm ($30 or more)

Council Candidate Kevin Williams

Columbia Gas of Kentucky

Jack Parker Batteries

Landmark Sprinkler

St. Martin’s Church

Vice Mayor Jim Gray, CM Linda Gorton, CM Ellinger, CM Tom Blues,

CM K. C. Crosbie, CM Peggy Henson, and CM Jay McChord

Citizens Spirit Award Recipients

Stephanie Wright, Galls Inc.

Roberts Towing and Heavy Lifting

Dr. David Greenlee

Special Recognition

Firefighter Combat Challenge Team

LFD Tournament Softball Team

Chief’s Commendation Recipients

E15, 1^st Plt.

FF Wes Herald, 3^rd Plt.

2010 FOF Calendar Creators

LFD Fallen Firefighter Memorial Committee

“Of The Year” Recipients

Civilian Support Person of the Year - Teresa Grider

Sworn Support Person of the Year - Lt. Carrie Bowling

FF of the Year - FF Greg Lengal

Company Officer of the Year - Captain Chris Harrod

District Officer of the Year - Major Jeff Nantz

EMS Provider of the Year - FF/P Keith Powell

Company of the Year - E4 and EC2, 1^st Plt.

Company Citation Recipients

EC 3 - 3^rd Plt.

EC1, 242 - 3^rd Plt.

E21 - 2^nd Plt.

L2 - 1^st Plt.

RS1, E9, E17, EC2 -1^st Plt.

RS1, E9, E12, E16, HM1, EC4, MA1, 242 - 2^nd Plt.

RS1, E8, L3 - 3^rd Plt.

Individual Meritorious Citation Recipients

Captain Pat Riley, while off duty

FF Robert Mott, while off duty

Citizens Meritorious Citation Recipients

Benjamin “Rocky” Griffieth (8 years old),

for waking up his entire family when his home had a fire.

Director Jenny Hornsby and the staff at Bluegrass Care and Rehabilitation,

for safe and effective evacuation of patients during a hazardous materials incident.

Mr. William Blare and Mr. Sebastian Murat,

for rescuing persons from a burning automobile.

Mr. David Lovin,

 rescued a person from a burning home.

Ms. Jenny Buck,

for performing life saving one person CPR on retired Fire Chief Gary McComas.

A hearty thank you to all the retirees, promotions, and award recipients.  Great people like you make the department and the city a great place to live and work.

Fallen Firefighters Memorial Dedication

On February 15th, 2010 the Lexington Firefighter Memorial was dedicated.  The monument is dedicated to members of our department who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving our community.  The dedication event culminated over three years of effort and investment on the part of the Lexington Fraternal Order of Firefighters, IAFF Local 526, the Division of Fire and Emergency Services, and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.  Deserving special recognition for their drive and unwavering commitment to see this project through are the members of the monument committee: Firefighter Travis Myers, Retired Major Ed Moore Jr, Retired Fire Captain Jeff Garris, and Retired Captain Max Hellmueller.  The monument is located downtown Lexington at Phoenix Park, at the intersection of S. Limestone and E. Main Streets.

Lexington's Fallen Firefighters are:
     Fire Chief Louis Travis, 1944
     Firefighter Henry McDonald, 1945
     Captain J.C. Moynahan, 1950
     Lieutenant Estill Rickerson, 1971
     Firefighter Robert Martin, 1986
     Firefighter Chuck Williams Jr, 1997
     Lieutenant Brenda Cowan, 2004


Home Heating Safety

Heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January, and February. Click here to read more important information and tips on how to safely heat your home.

Follow LFD on TWITTER

The Lexington Fire Department is now trying out TWITTER!  We will use this medium to pass on Fire Safety Tips, Fire Update, and other Lexington Fire Department Information to all who are interested.

Click here to follow us! - (LexingtonFire)

This time of year, dangers from carbon monoxide is of particular concern. As the mercury begins to dip, some families, struggling to pay their heating bills, will turn on the kitchen stove burners and the oven in an effort warm up their home. What these families don’t realize is how dangerous this practice can be. A gas oven or range top should never be used for heating. A fire could start and poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) fumes could fill the home.

Any fuel-burning heating equipment (fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, space or portable heaters), generators and chimneys can produce carbon monoxide. If these forms of heating are not properly ventilated CO poisoning can result.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) there is an increased risk of dying in a home fire during the winter season. December, January and February are generally the deadliest months for fire.

Often called a silent killer, CO is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels, such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil and methane, burn incompletely.

CO enters the body through breathing. CO poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms, food poisoning and other illnesses. Some symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, light headedness or headaches.

Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning, but infants, pregnant women and people with physical conditions that limit their ability to use oxygen, such as emphysema, asthma or heart disease, can be more severely affected by low concentrations of CO than healthy adults. High levels of CO can be fatal for anyone, causing death within minutes.

The goal of the Lexington Fire Department is to reduce the number of carbon monoxide incidents in Fayette Countyand discourage anyone from using the range or oven to heat their home. Install CO alarms inside your home to provide early warning of accumulating CO. Have your heating equipment inspected by a professional every year before cold weather sets in. Use generators outdoors away from all doors and windows and vents.

• CO alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms.  Know the difference between the sound of smoke alarms and CO alarms.
• Test CO alarms at least once a month.
• If your CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window and doors and call for help.
• Remain at the fresh air location until emergency personnel say it is okay. 
• If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries or other trouble indicators.

The Lexington Fire Department wants everyone to be warm and safe this winter.  Make sure your home has carbon monoxide alarms. 

Two New Special Operations Apparatus Enter Front Line Service

  Hazardous Materials One (HM1)

Heavy Rescue One (RS1)

In November new replacements for Hazardous Materials One and Heavy Rescue One went into front line service.  As their names imply these vehicles provide specialized equipment and personnel for highly technical and demanding emergency situations.

Hazardous Materials One (HM1) was purchased with a $600,000 grant award from the Kentucky Department of Homeland Security in 2008.   Heavy Rescue One (RS1) was ordered with local funds in 2008 at a cost of $600,000.  Because both vehicles are customized it took almost a year to build each of them. Both vehicles have retractable light masts and vehicle mounted scene lighting, slide out equipment trays that increase storage capacity as well as improve ergonomics, and engine/transmission/exhaust  systems that reduce environmental impact.  Of special note with HM1 are the enclosed two person research station and environmental monitoring equipment.  RS1 features under the chassis slide out storage trays and two immediately available extrication tools mounted on the front bumper.

HM1 and RS1 represent a significant improvement to our hazardous materials and technical response resources.  They join forces with our specialized Haz Mat Engine and Ladder companies to provide the largest contingent of immediately available special operations resources within the Commonwealth.   These, along with Command Post One, Mass Casualty One, and a variety of other pre-staged equipment are available to respond to any emergency at the local, regional, or state level.

THE LEXINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
IS THANKFUL FOR
FIRE SAFETY THIS THANKSGIVING

During the holidays, the process of deep frying a turkey can be tasty, but also dangerous. The instructions provided with the cooker should be read carefully before attempting to deep-fry a turkey. This is critical in order to prevent a serious fire or burn injury... read more