A wave of fire departments across suburban Jefferson County have gotten the rights to own and operate ambulances in recent years, responding to what they say is a clear need in their communities.
First there was only Anchorage, which has operated one for decades. Then, St. Matthews. Harrods Creek and Jeffersontown came soon after. Buechel and Eastwood followed.
Now, Fern Creek and Okolona are pursuing their own, and a proposed merger between four East End fire districts could mean even more residents are served by ambulances not operated by Louisville Metro Emergency Medical Services.
But amid this wave, some are raising questions about the trend's legality.
The union that represents EMS workers, led by John Stovall, recently pushed for a legal question to be sent to the state's attorney general's office, to clarify if those suburban districts' taxing methods were legal.