SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Zoneton Fire Department wants to start its own ambulance service to reduce response times across Bullitt County.
"Run volumes are going up," Fire Chief Kevin Moulton said. "Response times are going up."
Here are the average response times for Bullitt County EMS in Zonton Fire District over the past three years:
- 2023: 9.39 minutes for 1,061 runs
- 2024: 13.5 minutes for 2,965 runs
- 2025 (Jan. to June): 12 minutes for 1,445 runs
In that same time period, Zoneton Fire's EMS runs have averaged between 4 to 5 minutes. Moulton said his department has responded to more than 435 of those calls so far in 2025.
"I'm not bashing Bullitt County EMS," Moulton said. "I'm not bashing our county, but they just need help. Their run volumes are going up."
The department hopes to expand its role in emergency medical care with an ambulance service. The Zoneton Fire Protection District Board voted to move forward with this idea Tuesday night.
Moulton said the plan is to hire eight paramedics, eight EMTs, a medical director, and an EMS chief.
"The paramedics and advanced EMTs are going to have monitors on the trucks," Moulton said. "We're going to have the drugs. We're going to have everything that the ambulance is going to carry, for the most part. We'll be able to start doing those life-saving procedures for them."
Zoneton Fire also needs to buy equipment, including at least two ambulances. Down the line, Moulton said he wants to add a third ambulance for northern Bullitt County.
"That's great," Shepherdsville resident Gladys Kimbler said. "Wonderful!"
For the past 50 years, Kimbler has relied on the Zoneton Fire Department in her times of need.
"I've used them several times with my husband before he died," Kimbler said. "They were here within 10 minutes. We have a lot of older people here, and they're not in good health."
Moulton expects this project to cost $5.6 million. He said that funding will come from a loan or a line of credit.
"I feel confident," Moulton said. "I plan on having that paid off within year four."
This new service would come with a tax increase for residents.
Moulton said the proposed rate is 10 cents per $100 of assessed value of property. That means a $250,000 home's ambulance tax would be $250 a year.
The Zoneton Fire Protection District Board has not yet set a meeting to vote on the proposed tax.
"Once we get this line of credit or loan paid off, whichever direction [the board] wants to go with, we will lower that tax rate to where we will be able to sustain the EMS service," Moulton said.
Zoneton Fire plans to continue to work closely with Bullitt County EMS for mutual aid. However, Moulton said one of the new ambulances will have geofencing.
"Which is putting an imaginary line through our district," Moulton said. "We will have one ambulance dedicated strictly for our community. The other ones will be able to assist Bullitt County or Mount Washington with mutual aid assistance, if they need."
Moulton said the long-term goal of this project is to "get more people back home to their loved ones."
"It's nice to know that when we call, they'll be here," Kimbler said.
The department is awaiting final approval of the certificate of need. This process prevents the rapid increase of health care facilities, health services and major medical equipment in Kentucky.
That paperwork is due in October, and Moulton said his team won't know if it's been approved until March 2026.
However, the fire chief said he's not letting this slow down the department's momentum. He said Zoneton Fire's attorney has given him the clearance to start looking for a medical director very soon.
Zoneton Fire Protection District is located at 5328 N. Preston Hwy. To learn more about the department, click here.
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