Owensboro honors firefighters, approves mutual-aid pact with Ohio Township

The Owensboro City Commission on a November evening recognized multiple members of the Owensboro Fire Department for mutual‑aid deployments and approved a mutual‑aid agreement with Ohio Township, Indiana.

Chief James Howard described the department's mutual‑aid program and its role during the May tornado in Dawson Springs and subsequent water‑rescue incidents. He named dozens of personnel being commended and said letters of commendation will be placed in their permanent records. "You are each being recognized for your actions of 05/27/2024," Howard said, summarizing the department's urban search‑and‑rescue role in collapsed‑structure operations.

Hopkins County Judge Executive Jack Whitfield Jr., who traveled to Owensboro to speak to the commission, thanked the department for its assistance and described the scale of the disasters that prompted mutual aid. "We wouldn't be able to start recovering without you guys and many more like you coming down to begin the process of rescuing people," Whitfield said.

Separately, the commission approved Municipal Order 31‑2024, authorizing the mayor to execute a mutual‑aid agreement with the Ohio Township Fire Department (Indiana). City staff said the agreement will provide manpower and dive‑team resources for river‑response incidents and supplement local capabilities when incidents exceed Owensboro's on‑hand resources.

Chief Howard cautioned that mutual aid can be taxing on local resources and raised administrative issues such as FEMA reimbursement and recordkeeping. He said the department's priority remains protecting Owensboro while offering assistance to neighboring jurisdictions.

The action was approved on a voice vote. The commission also approved a related memorandum to retain commendations in personnel files; staff said these are routine personnel records and will not change rank or benefits.