Louisville Fire Dept

Today on National First Responders Day, we honor the men and women who work tirelessly to keep Louisville safe. Our public safety professionals make sacrifices every day to protect our community. I'm proud to call them colleagues, and as long as I am Mayor, we will continue to support them with the resources they need to succeed.

Proud of the incredible work our first responders are doing through Drone as First Responder to improve safety and save lives! As @loukyfire Assistant Chief Kyle Fekete shared in Firehouse Magazine, success starts with clear policies, strong training and a commitment to continuous improvement. Louisville is embracing innovation to better protect our community and first responders. firehouse.com/technology/dro…

Fire Prevention Week is a reminder that prevention saves lives. My team has worked together over the last several years to secure dangerous properties before fires occur and bring structural fires down 30% citywide, with no fires in Landbank properties. Stay vigilant, because simple steps can save lives and help keep our neighborhoods and firefighters safe.

For too long, our city's commitment to the men and women of Louisville Fire failed to match their commitment to us. Investments in their stations and equipment were deferred. Pay didn’t keep up with the demands of their job. And over time, the city had accepted a norm that was simply unacceptable. We owe it to them to provide modern equipment, safe facilities, and the resources they need to protect themselves and our community. Now, that's what we're doing.

We will never forget the 2,977 lives lost on September 11, and we will never forget to honor each person’s humanity. Each had a life. Each had a story. We will never forget the courage of passengers, coworkers, strangers, and first responders who put others before themselves, including the 343 firefighters who gave their lives running toward danger. Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, we remember not only what was lost, but the courage, compassion, and humanity that emerged in its wake. And to all of our first responders, then and now, thank you for your courage, your service, and your unwavering commitment to protecting others. Never forget.

Honored to participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run this morning. Not only does it help us kick off the Special Olympics Kentucky Summer Games, but it benefits Special Olympics Kentucky to help provide year-round sports training, competition, and life-changing opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Today, we celebrate the life and memory of Rachel's and my dear friend, Ronel Allen Brown Sr. I first met Ronel at Rooster’s near his home in Fern Creek just as I was starting my campaign for Mayor. From the first moments of our conversation, we hit it off – sharing values, a love of our families, of public service, and our city. We went on to share many wonderful meals and times together over the last five years. Ronel spent his life showing up for other people. He was a proud, respected and dedicated member of @loukyfire, a cherished public school teacher, and an important member of our team in the Mayor’s Office. In each of these roles, Ronel shined while making our city shine. Ronel loved life, his god, his family, his friends, his city, and his UofL Cardinals. We all loved Ronel back. He made every person he interacted with feel so good, so valued, and so supported. May Ronel's memory be a blessing to us all.

@loukyfire will have a 24-hour presence at Churchill Downs Thursday morning through Sunday morning Firefighters, inspectors, and equipment will be staged throughout the track during Thurby, Oaks, and Derby Citywide fire coverage will remain fully operational outside the event area LFD teams will respond to emergencies, monitor safety hazards, and assist EMS with medical incidents