Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District

The Pleasure Ridge Park Fire District (PRP) was originally formed by a group of local citizens in February 1950. For the first six months of PRP's existence it operated on funds provided by local businesses whose names were placed on the back of firefighter turnout gear. In October 1950, PRP was officially recognized as a fire protection district under Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) Chapter 75 Fire Protection Districts, which enabled it to collect taxes from property owners for its funding. PRP was initially an all-volunteer force. The first chief, Edward R. Gland, commanded a group of sixteen volunteers and operated out of a building it shared with the Jefferson County Police Department and the Department of Public Works. In 1955, PRP constructed its first stand alone fire station at the present site of PRP Station 1. By the end of the 1950s PRP was operating out of two stand alone fire stations, in the 1960s two more stations were constructed and in the 1970s a fifth station was added. In 1991, PRP constructed a state-of-the-art training facility that included a 6th fire station. In 2004, PRP merged with a neighboring department (South Dixie Fire Protection District) which added two more fire stations; this accounts for the eight current facilities operated by PRP. From 1950 to 1973, PRP remained an all-volunteer force. In 1973 a radio dispatcher was employed by the district. In 1975 the first female employee of the district was hired as a fire inspector. By 1984, PRP was still operating with an all-volunteer firefighting force consisting of 150 members, but had hired 11 employees to manage dispatching, building inspections, apparatus maintenance and hydrant inspections. In 1987, fire dispatching was transferred to the Louisville Division of Fire and the PRP dispatchers were transferred to PRP's first career fire company making PRP's official department type change from volunteer to combination. In 1991, PRP hired its first career fire chief, Eric D. Evans. Also, in the 1990s, PRP added a second career fire company during business hours which with the first career fire company responded to incidents during the day until the large volunteer suppression force was able to staff units after business hours. In 2003 PRP, following a trend of most departments with career members, moved its career staff from 40-hour employees to 56-hour employees. In 2004, PRP merged with a neighboring department and added a third career company which was the model until 2018. In 2018 PRP began providing a Basic and Advanced Life Support ground ambulance service. On July 1st, 2020 Pleasure Ridge Park Fire merged with Lake Dreamland Fire.[2]

In 2012, PRPFD was one of 676 registered Fire Departments in the state of Kentucky according to the National Fire Department Census.[3]

In 2019, PRP EMS Unit 2281 Ranked #17 Busiest Ambulance in the United States with 5,000 call for service. [4]

In 2019, PRP Engine 2231 Ranked #97 as the busiest Engine Company in the United States with 3,147 call for service. [5]

Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District operates out of 6 stations, making it the third largest department in the state of Kentucky, behind Lexington and Louisville. Here is a list of stations, their locations, and operating companies.

Station 1 - 4500 Kerrick Lane

Engine 2231 - Career Staffed

Quint 2251 - Reserve

Medic 2281 - Career Staffed

Vehicle/Apparatus Repair Facility

Station 2/Headquarters - 9500 Stonestreet Road

Quint 2252 - Career Staffed

Medic 2282 - Career Staffed

ALS Car 2207 (40hr Medical Compliance Officer) - Career Staffed

Battalion 2203 - Career Staffed

Forestry 2272

Fire Prevention Bureau

Station 3 - 8505 Terry Road

Engine 2233 - Career Staffed

Quad 2243 - Reserve

Car 2215 (24hr Paramedic Fly-Car) - Career Staffed

Medic 2283 - Career Staffed

Station 4 - 13210 Dixie Hwy

Engine 2284 - Part-Time (Staffed 24/7/365)

Reserve Engine

Station 5 - 4603 Cane Run Road

Quad 2245 - Career Staffed

Reserve Engine

Medic 2285

Haz-Mat 22 (West Side component of Jefferson County Haz-Mat Team)

Car 2214 (EMS Supervisor) - Career Staffed

Station 6 - 4912 Campground Road

Engine 2236 - Rapid Response (Staffed during night hours)

Training Center - 8201 Greenwood Road

Training Facility

Annual collections for the WHAS Crusade for Children were pioneered by the Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District of which all other Districts have since taken part.
Pleasure Ridge Park was the top contributing Fire District for the 59th annual WHAS Crusade for Children. The citizens of Pleasure Ridge Park donated $314,132.27 in 2012. On June 5, 2016, at the 63rd annual WHAS Crusade for Children Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District was recognized for donating over $8,000,000 to the Crusade, since 1956.

2018 Crusade for Children, Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Collection Total: $189,307.09

2019 Crusade for Children, Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Collection Total: $194,154.54

2020 Crusade for Children, Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Collection total: $77,417.63 (Covid-19 affected this years total)

• WHAS Crusade for Children - Official Site
• Jefferson Riverport International - Resident Companies
• Life-Savers Inc.

• Valley Station, Louisville
• Combination fire department
• Pleasure Ridge Park, Louisville