The History of Lexington's Station 18

Lexington's Fire Station #18 was built in 1986 and opened on December 5, 1986 at 1838 hours. The crew that opened #18 was from 1st Platoon and consisted of Captain Luther Stivers, FF Spencer and FF Wallace. Day 2 brought 2nd Platoon which included Captain Bob Gregory, FF Bobby Freeman, and FF Russell Wyrick. The 3rd Platoon crew of Day #3 consisted of Captain Stanley Norris, Lt. Charlie McElfresh and FF J. Reeves. Engine 18 made its first run on December 10, 1986 at 1742 hours. The run was for a vehicle accident with injuries near Firegate #12 on Athens-Walnut Hill Road.

The first Engine 18 was this International four-door chassis that had a front-mount pump and could pump-and-roll. The truck proved pretty reliable for its $100,000 price-tag, and, aside from being quite slow, served the area well until it was retired in 2005 when the current Engine 18 was delivered from Sutphen.

This late 1980's photo from Retired Captain Max Hellmueller shows, L to R: FF Russell Wyrick, Major Tommy Holman, FF Donald Dunaway, Captain Daryl Parker and then FF, now Major Glenn Phillips.

Station 18 built their first fire prevention week float in 2006 and it is shown here. The float had an appropriate theme of wildland-urban interface fire safety. In wildland firefighting gear and standing on the float are FF Ken Henke and Lt. Ricky Wilson.

Crow, a border collie owned by neighbor and retired LFD Captain Luther Stivers, certainly deserves a place in the history of Station 18. In front of #18 is a bulk water filling station owned by Kentucky American Water Company and used extensively by area farmers to fill their water tanks. Known as the "water dog" by those who don't know his name, Crow comes running any time water is sprayed or spilled by the filling station. He chases streams of water and is recognized by those in the area as a part of Station 18.