Buechel Fire to merge with Fern Creek Fire & EMS starting July 1

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Buechel Fire-EMS Department will merge into Fern Creek Fire & EMS, Fern Creek Fire announced on Tuesday.

The merger will be effective starting July 1. The main headquarters will be at 6200 Bardstown Road, where Fern Creek Fire is currently located.

Fern Creek Chief Nathan Mulvey said the merger has been a long time coming.

"We created a steering committee, they discussed it looked at the benefits and risks and rewards, and there really was no loss. It's all gain. Services really don't change they're actually going to improve," Chief Mulvey said.

Back in July 2021, the Camp Taylor Fire District merged into Buechel Fire. That added additional staff and a 24/7 ambulance.

Like with Camp Taylor, Buechel's merger isn't an overhaul.

"It is not a takeover. This is truly a blending of two cultures and how can we take the best of both and make it even better," Mulvey said.

Fire officials said residents shouldn't expect many changes other than the name change and if anything, it will improve service.

"I guess the biggest change you'll notice is some of the equipment may be striped differently and may look a little bit differently, but as far as what you're getting, their response and what you're getting out of our personnel, it's going to be consistent service," Mulvey said.

MERGER | Buechel Fire & EMS is merging into Fern Creek Fire & EMS. The department says folks shouldn’t expect many changes other than the name change. And if anything, it would be an improved service. @WDRBNews pic.twitter.com/McZayWoWxM
— Monica Harkins WDRB (@MonicaHarkinstv) June 8, 2022

This new merger will serve the Fern Creek, Buechel and Camp Taylor communities.

Nationwide, fire and EMS districts have struggled with staffing, like many other industries.

"I'll be honest, it is a challenge across the board. I think the fire service and the EMS service are starting to feel impacts," Chief Mulvey said.

He said EMS hiring is particularly hard, so the merge should help.

As for quality of the districts, Mulvey said both Buechel and Fern Creek are performing well based on the national inspection scale. Each received a 2 fire score out of 10, with one being the best.

"I don't know that our rating will get any better, but it definitely won't get any worse," Mulvey said. "So as staffing is increased that will inherently affect that number which would be nothing but an improvement."

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