CNHI
7-7-10 — Editor Note: This article was originally published in the Commonwealth Journal.
By HEATHER PYLES
CJ Staff Writer
Families living just past the Pulaski-Wayne County line will be under the watch of a local volunteer fire department thanks to a new agreement reached by the fiscal courts of both counties.
On Tuesday, June 22 Pulaski County Fiscal Court approved an interlocal cooperation agreement that will allow the Bronston Volunteer Fire Department to respond to fires located just over the county line in Wayne County.
The Monticello Fire Department has trouble reaching fires located in certain areas of northern Wayne County quickly, which has led to several homes being destroyed.
“It’s all over before they can even get there,” said Pulaski County Judge-Excecutive Barty Bullock on Wednesday, June 23.
One of the more recent cases left one family without a home. A fire broke out at a residence, located on Ky. 790 in Wayne County, on a cold February morning, but emergency responders didn’t arrive on the scene on time.
That scenario is what officials are hoping to avoid with the agreement.
The Bronston Volunteer Fire Department will respond to fires and other incidents located on Ky. 790 in Wayne County to Zion Road, as well as all the side roads. Bronston will also respond to incidents on Ky. 90 in Wayne County to the Frazer Area.
Those areas are actually located closer to Bronston than the Monticello city limits, which is where the Monticello Fire Department is located.
Monticello Fire Department will be dispatched as a second responder to the incidents.
According to the agreement, Wayne County will pay the Bronston Fire Department over $300 each run to “cover their cost,” Bullock said.
“We’ve had a couple houses to burn to the ground down there,” said 5th District Magistrate Mike Strunk during Tuesday’s meeting, whose district includes Bronston. He had also been in contact with members of the Wayne County Fiscal Court during talks of the agreement.
“It’s a pretty big deal, especially for folks living down there, Bullock said.
The Wayne County Fiscal Court approved the agreement earlier this month.