Bush Fire Department History 

Department,

Inc.

Bush Fire

Bush Fire Department

8642 East Laurel Road

London, Ky 40741-8619

Emergency Dial 9-1-1

Station #1 Phone - (606) 864-6633

Station #2 Phone - (606) 878-6663

Fax- (606) 862-7003

Email- bushfiredept@bushfd.net

April 1975- Organized; Thirteen men met at Providence Baptist Church for the purpose of organizing a fire department to protect the lives and property of the Bush community.

1. John R. Jones, Origanal Chief; first couple of meetings

2.Kenneth Smith, First Chief (1975 to 1984)

3.Rance Bruner

4.Robert Anderson, Board of Trustees

5.Dwayne Minton

6.Randy Beckner, Chief (1984 to1993)

7.Don Minton, Still active - Chief  (1999 to 2010)

8.Dennis Minton, Still active - Board of Trustees

9.Ernest R. Rudder, Still active - Chief  - Board of Trustees; Current Captain in F.D.

10.Wayne Hopper, Still active - Board of trustees

11.Murrell Miller, Still active

12.Michael Nicholson

13.Gary Brock

May 1976- Board of Trustees organized. Original tax rate set at .08 cents per $100.00 on real estate property. The purpose was to pay back a proposed FHA loan to the Fire District. R. Gay Blair elected first Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

September 1977- Second fire truck put into service. 1962 American LaFrance.

May 1979- First ISO rating granted in June 1979 (Class 9).

August 1979- R. Gay Blair resigned as chairman of Board of Trutees.

November 1979- Birchell L. Rudder elected as Chairman of Board of trustees.

March 1980- Tax rate lowered to .065 cents per $100.00 assessment. Thirde fire truck put into service.

April 1981- ISO extened the coveragearea to 5 miles radius of Bush Fire Station.

October 1983- Building of addition to Fire Station began.

February 1984- Randy Beckner elected as second Chief of Bush Fire Department.

June 20 1984- at 03:43 am the fire Station and all equipment was lost in fire.

January 1985- Dedication of rebuilt Bush Fire Station #1, with Open House.

January 1986- Purchased another Fire Truck

September 1988- Obtained a loan from FHA to install fire Truck.

January 1989- ISO testing to lower rating.

March 1989- Received a Class 7 rating from ISO. being the third in the Commonwealth of Kentucky to be granted a rating of Class 7 for a rural volunteer department.

May 1991- Additional territories were annexed into the Bush District, upon presentation of a petition from property owners along Highway 521.

April 1992- Addintional territories were annexed into Bush District, upon presentation of a petition from property owners on Highway 1561.

October 1993- Official dedication of Bush Station #2 in th Lick Fork Community. Dedication address by U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers.

October 1993- Randy Beckner resigned as Chief of Bush Fire Department.

January 1994- David Williams elected as third Chief of Bush Fire Department.

January1995- William (Bill) Hatcher elected as fourth Chief of Bush Fire Department.

April 1995- Board of Trustees voted to purchase another Fire Truck.

October 1995- Board of Trustees voted to purchase additional Fire Truck.

September 1996- Birchell Rudderresigned as Chairman of Board of Trustees after 17 years, but remained on the board.

September 1996- Larry Rush became third Chairman of Board of Trustees.

June 1997- Took delivery of a new Class A pumper, custom buil by KME and designed by the Bush Fire Department.

August 1998- Tax rate lowered to .062 center per $100.00 assessment on real estate property.

December 1998- William (Bill) Hatcher resigned as chief of Bush Fire Department.

January 1999- Don Minton elected as fifth Chief of Bush Fire Department.

March 1999- Board agreed to purchase a new mini-pumper.

December 2000- Took delivery of new mini-pumper.

June 2001- Tax rate lowered to .059 center per $100.00 on real estate property.

November2002- Birchell L Rudder, original Trustee elected by the property owners of the Bush Fire Department District, Died on the 18th, having served twenty-seven years on the Board of Trustees.

October 2003- Board of Trustees approved a proposal by the Fire Department to install an LP-gas Emergency Generator for Fire Station #1. This would provide electrical power to run the building in case of community emergencies.

January 2004- Members of the Fire Department reported plans to build another brush truck.

July 2004- Board of Trustess entered into a contract with Christian-Sturgeon Associates to conduct the audits of the Bush Fire District.

October 2004- Lowered the prevailing tax rate .0575 cents per $100.00 on real estate properties.

December 2,2005- Kenneth Smith, first elected Chief from 1975-1984 passed away.

January 2006- The Board of Trustees approved plans for an addition to Fire Station #1.

July 2006- Board approved the installation of electric garage door openers at both stations.

November 2006- Bids for the new addition at Station #1 were advised.

December 2006- Bids were received for a new Class A pumper for the Fire Department.

January 2006- Contract for the new Class A pumper was awarded to Rosenbauer- Central States Fire Apparatus.

September 2007- New Rosenbauer Class A pumper was Received and housed at Fire Station #1.

November 2007- New building addition was completed.

April 2009- Board of Trustees approved purchase of a new 3000 gallon tanker.

June 2009- Contract for the new 3000 gallon tanker was awarded to Rosenbauer- Central States Fire Apparatus.

December 25,2009-  2007 Class A pumper was involed in an accident on Highway 1305 returning to Fire Station#1 from a motor vehicle accident on East Laurel Rd.

May 10, 2010-New Rosenbauer 3000 gallon tanker was received and housed at Fire Station #2.

October 25,2010 -Don Minton resigned as Chief of Bush Fire Department.

November 1,2010- Phillip Williams elected as sixth Chief of Bush Fire Department.

February 2011- Purchased TNT Rescue Tools and equipped B2 and B3.

March 2011- Initiated Junior Firefighter Program with Fire Commission Guidelines.

December 2,2011-Bush Fire Department won first place in the fire truck decorating category in Christmas on Main Parade.

December 17,2011 - Christmas Dinner and Awards Ceremony held at Bush Fire Department Station #1; Original 13 members of Bush Volunteer Fire Department were recognized; Outstandin Member Awards presented to Ernie Perry and Ray Sasser; Rookie Firefighter of the year presented to Whitney Minton, Jonathon Rednour, and Jonathan Wilson; Fire Officer of the year presented to Lt. Eric Philpot; and Firefighter of the year presented to Marc Rudder.

June 2012- 1999 Dodge Mini Pumper B-1 renovated to hold TNT Rescue Tools and other rescue equipment.

November 30,2012- Bush Fire Department won first place for the second year in the fire truck decorating category in the Christmas on Main Parade.

December 7,2012- Christmas Dinner and Awards Ceremony held at Bush Fire Department Station #1; Burrent members with more then 30 years of service to the department were recognized; Capt. Eric Philpot and Firefighter Tommy Sasser and Whitney Minton were recognixed for becoming certified EMTs; Outstanding Member Award presented to Josh Wagers; Rookie Firefighter of the year presented to Daryl Thompson; Officer of the year presented to Deputy Chief Keith Hayre; and Firefighter of the year presented to Kyle Williams.

November 2013- Bush Fire Departmen Firefighter Daryl Thompon won the 1st Annual London/Laurel County Dispatch Chili Cookoff held at Sommerset Community Collage during the Ky Fire Commissions Instructor Weekend.

December 20, 3013- Bush Fire Department Station #3 was completed and housed he newly purchased Class A pumper.

November 1, 2014- Bush Fire Department Firefighter Daryl Thompson won the 2nd annual London/ Laurel County Cookoff held at Bush Fire Department Station #1.

November 2014- Received a Class 5 Rating from ISO.

December 5, 2014- Bush Fire Department won first place for the fourth year in the fire truck decorating category in the Randy Smith Christmas on Main Parade.

December 19, 2014- Christmas dnner and Awards Ceremoney held at Bush Fire Department Station #1. Outstanding Member Award presented to FF. Daryl Thompson; Rookie Firefighter of the Year Award presented to FF. Rodney Chadwell; and Firefighter of the Year Award presented to Lt. Chris Irvine.

March 2015- Purchased 1995 Ford 2000 Gallon Tanker to be housed at Bush Fire Department Station #1.

October 31,2015- Bush Fire Department Firefighter Daryl Thompson won the 3rd Annual London/ Laurel County Dispatch Chili Cookoff at the London Corbin Airport during the Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County Pink Pumpkin 5K Event.