South Louisville fire department launches first EMS operation; the cost and why they say it's worth it

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The Zoneton Fire District has been providing fire prevention and protection service to a corner of the Bullitt County community for more than 60 years. But in 2025, for the first time ever, the fire service is launching its own fire-based EMS (Emergency Medical Service).

Chief Kevin Moulton made the announcement Wednesday, saying, "we believe that integrating EMS within the fire department will result in faster response times, more seamless coordination during emergencies, and greater accountability."

So who's been providing these services until now? According to Moulton, its been Bullitt County EMS. He said while Zoneton Fire will take on the majority of EMS runs in the district, Bullitt County could still be called on for mutual aid and backup support.

It comes at a cost

To pay for the staffing, equipment and service needs, there will be a new dedicated EMS tax to fund the service. Moulton estimates it will be about 10 cents per 100 dollars of assessed property value. That means a homeowner who's property cost $250,000 will pay $250 annually in EMS tax.

Timeline

Zoneton fire officials hope to complete the hiring, training, and licensing process in the coming months to start offering EMS services later this year.

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