We all know firefighters respond in the traditional way. When the alarm goes off, the men and women at the firehouse hop on the truck and rush to an emergency.
Chief of the Lexington Fire Department, Jason Wells says they also respond in non-traditional ways, delivering services before an emergency. Like installing car seats.
“If you are coming home from the hospital with your new baby and you need a car seat installed,” Wells says, “we will be happy to show you how to properly do that and make sure that it's in right.”
There is also a smoke alarm installation program paid for through city funding and grants.
“We will install that in your home regardless of financial ability, because we want to make sure that everybody has working smoke alarms in their home.” Wells says, “It's such a simple thing to do and it truly, truly does save lives.”
The Department also offers an opportunity for you to get some behind-the-scenes, hands-on experience. The Citizens Fire Academy was created to help firefighters and emergency first responders gain a closer relationship with the citizens they serve and give the community an inside view of operations.
“If you are a resident of Lexington and you're interested in learning more about your fire department, we would encourage people to join. We do a spring and fall classes.” Wells says, “It's 10 weeks, a few hours a week that you want to come in and learn and experience a day in the life of a firefighter.”
The CFA is open to anyone 18 years old or older who either lives or works in Fayette County or surrounding counties. Classes are limited to no more than 25 students and spots are on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information log on to https://www.lexingtonky.gov/departments/fire-emergency-services.
