Lexington, KY— U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) visited the Lexington Fire Department and presented a Congressional Record to honor 150 years of service by the Department. The Lexington Fire Department responded to 304,000 local emergencies in the past 5 years, with a current staff of 597 men and women and a budget of just over $80 million.
“I am honored to participate in a celebration of the extraordinary service the Lexington Fire Department has provided to the people of Lexington for the last 150 years. This Fire Department is the gold standard of public service,” said Congressman Barr. “I will continue to champion essential federal funding programs such as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, that support the work this Department and others throughout my District do on a daily basis to save lives and keep our communities safe.”
“The Lexington Fire Department has a long, proud history of service to our city. We are grateful to Congressman Barr for recognizing our historic milestone and sharing this day with us. We are also grateful for Congressman Barr’s strong advocacy for our organization,” said Jason Wells, Chief of the Lexington Fire Department. “Whether it is advocating for our federal grant requests or supporting critical grant programs like the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, Congressman Barr has been a tremendous advocate for our Department.
Congressman Barr has consistently supported Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) applications by the Lexington Fire Department, including a grant request this year through a letter of support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Additionally, Congressman Barr support was instrumental in the $511,078 federal grant the Lexington Fire Department received through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for the Department to continue services for survivors of substance abuse overdoses, which includes casework management, treatment providers, housing assistance and other mental health resources.