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Mayfield opens new fire station in a big step to recovery from the 2021 tornado

More than four years after the deadly 2021 tornado destroyed the original building, a large crowd of Mayfield residents, city leaders and first reponders gathered Tuesday for the grand opening of their new fire station.

Governor Andy Beshear also joined in on the dedication for the new hub for the city's fire and EMS departments. He spoke to the gathering along with Mayfield mayor Kathy O'Nan and fire chief Jeremy Creason. Creason commended his crews for working patiently in makeshift temporary facilities until the new facilities were ready.

Part of the ceremonies included the Mayfield firefighters pushing their new fire truck by hand into the station. The tradition, known as a push-in ceremony, dates back to the 19th-century era of horse-drawn fire apparatus. Because horses could not safely back the equipment into the fire station after a call, firefighters had to unhitch the horses and push the wagons into the bay by hand.

The new fire station has been relocated out of downtown to Kings Drive. It's a few blocks further north to accommodate the number of properties that the city has annexed over the last few years, with the goal of keeping fire response times within a three-and-a-half to four-minute window.

More than 20 Graves County residents perished during the EF-4 tornado that rumbled across more than 160 miles in western Kentucky, and demolished much of the city and county's governmental facilities.

Meanwhile, other destroyed Mayfield institutions are also taking shape. Construction continues on the new city hall, police station, and the future Graves County Judicial Center.


(Photos: City of Mayfield)
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