Richardsville Fire Department celebrates 50 years!

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – 50 years ago, five men met in a small garage in the Richardsville community and decided to start a volunteer fire department. Today, that department has grown much much larger.

Over the weekend, the department celebrated their 50th anniversary with a cookout for the community.

Many came out to grab a bite to eat with the family, bounce in the inflatable fire truck and get an inside look at the department’s new 75 foot aerial truck.

The department has only had the new truck for a couple of months. It’s something that founding member, Joe Lane Willis is proud to see.

“We’ve got one living founding member left and he’s with us today. He never dreamed that we would end up with an aerial device such as this in our fleet in Richardsville,” said Fire Chief, Brian Lee.  “In the early 70s we had five men organize the fire department and we have grown greatly in the last 50 years.”

The department, which started with one small truck in a garage, now covers a big portion of the county.

The department was proud to honor founding member Joe Lane Willis during the celebration.