Warren County fiscal court approves merger of nine volunteer fire districts into countywide department, names deputy fire coordinator

Warren County fiscal court on Thursday voted to consolidate the county’s nine volunteer fire districts into a single countywide organization, the Warren County Fire Department, and authorized the judge executive to transfer the authority having jurisdiction to the fiscal court effective Sept. 1, 2025.

The court also approved the hiring of Michael Alton as deputy fire coordinator, effective immediately, and directed county staff and department leaders to implement a phased staffing and governance plan intended to preserve local department names while centralizing administrative authority.

The merger was presented as a multi-year effort involving the Kentucky Fire Commission and local stakeholders. Bill Rector, who addressed the court during the item, said the process included multiple meetings with department leadership and state fire-commission staff and represented an effort to ‘‘enhance our legal obligations moving forward’’ and to follow commission guidance. Rector described the work as ‘‘arduous, but ... rewarding,’’ and he said the county would establish an executive steering committee to include representation from all departments to provide policy recommendations and preserve local concerns.

Judge Executive (Judge) called the action ‘‘a historic day in Warren County’’ and praised volunteer firefighters and county leaders for the multi-year effort. The judge said the county expects the example to be considered by other Kentucky counties and thanked department leaders, dispatch, Bowling Green Fire Department staff and state officials for their participation.

Michael Alton was introduced to the court as the appointed deputy fire coordinator. The court record notes Alton’s military and firefighting background; the county announced he will transition from his previous role and begin work in the new county position immediately.

County officials described initial paid daytime staffing already in place at select stations and a plan to expand coverage. Rector said the county began daytime paid staffing at Richardsville Station 1 and Alberton Station 3 and reported early collaborative responses to two recent structure fires. He said the county processed volunteer applications in batches and intends, barring day-to-day variation during rollout, to add weekday daytime staffing at Browning Station 2 and Smiths Grove Station 1 beginning the day after Labor Day.

Officials emphasized that local department district names and community identities will remain on apparatus and buildings and that volunteer membership will continue to be a central feature. The court also acknowledged work on station repairs, apparatus procurement and a recruitment/retention effort that had already produced several new applications for volunteer membership.

The fiscal court approved the merger and the appointment by recorded roll call; the resolution directing the merger and transfer of authority was adopted with the recorded votes in favor. The court indicated signings to finalize the designation would take place immediately after the meeting.

County leaders said the transition will include a period of policy and operational alignment, appointments to the executive steering committee, and continued collaboration with volunteer chiefs to ensure day-to-day response and local identity are maintained.