Lexington Selects New Junior Fire Chief

Lexington, Ky. — The Lexington Fire Department has announced the selection of its new Junior Fire Chief, Owen Ives, a fifth grader from Veteran’s Park Elementary School. Owen was honored for his exceptional presentation on the importance of smoke alarms, which secured his victory in the 2024 Junior Fire Chief competition.

The announcement was made at a ceremony held on Tuesday morning in a packed gymnasium filled with Owen’s classmates and schoolmates. Fire Chief Jason Wells praised Owen’s presentation, highlighting its thoroughness in addressing how smoke alarms function and providing vital statistics regarding their life-saving capabilities.

“Owen’s presentation was so well done,” Chief Wells remarked. “It hit on the importance of smoke alarms and talked about how smoke alarms work.”

During the ceremony, Owen received a symbolic pinning as the Junior Chief. Overcome with emotion, he expressed pride in his achievement, a sentiment echoed by his father, Josh Ives, who emphasized the significance of the message Owen will share with the community.

“I’m really excited for him,” Mr. Ives stated. “It’s an important message to the community.” He noted that Owen likely learned about the importance of working smoke detectors through family practices, including their annual battery checks.

As Junior Fire Chief, Owen will have the opportunity to experience various aspects of a fire chief’s daily responsibilities. He is scheduled to visit several firehouses and city landmarks, which will include attending a Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government council meeting this Thursday, where he will meet Mayor Linda Gorton and members of the city council.

“He’s going to be spreading his message about smoke alarms along the way,” Chief Wells said, reinforcing the significance of educating the public on fire safety.

The Lexington Fire Department underscored the ongoing risk of fire-related fatalities in the community, many of which can be prevented by ensuring homes have functioning smoke detectors. Chief Wells invited residents to contact the fire department for assistance in installing or inspecting smoke alarms.

With daylight saving time ending next month, the Lexington Fire Department is encouraging community members to check their smoke alarms as a crucial safety measure.