# Gorton honors Lexington Fire Department on International Firefighters' Day  
**Published:** 2026-05-01T14:11:52Z  
**Source:** City of Lexington Mayor's Office (press release, emailed to editor@lexingtonky.news)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/gorton-honors-lexington-fire-department-on-international-firefighters-day

LEXINGTON, Ky. — [Mayor Linda Gorton recognized members of the Lexington Fire Department on International Firefighters' Day](https://fox56news.com/news/local/lexington/lexington-mayor-declares-may-4th-international-firefighters-day/), presenting a proclamation that officially designates May 4 as International Firefighters' Day in the city. The ceremony included Fire Chief Jason Wells and public safety officials at the Government Center Lobby.

[International Firefighters' Day is observed on May 4 to honor firefighters for their service internationally and to commemorate those killed in the September 11 attacks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Firefighters%27_Day). [Gorton highlighted the wide range of emergencies firefighters respond to—everything from fires and severe weather to medical calls and large-scale disasters](https://fox56news.com/news/local/lexington/lexington-mayor-declares-may-4th-international-firefighters-day/).

Wells emphasized that the recognition reflects the broader work of modern firefighters. "[Three quarters of our calls are not fire-related," he explained. "They may be medical calls, vehicle collisions, technical rescues or hazardous material situations](https://fox56news.com/news/local/lexington/lexington-mayor-declares-may-4th-international-firefighters-day/)." [The Lexington Fire Department is the largest in Kentucky, with 24 stations and more than 600 personnel, providing fire and EMS services](https://www.wuky.org/wuky-news/2026-05-04/lexington-firefighters-ems-honored-for-international-firefighters-day).

Wells noted the personal significance of the moment. "[When you go home at the end of the day, you know that you've made a tangible difference in somebody's life," Wells said](https://fox56news.com/news/local/lexington/lexington-mayor-declares-may-4th-international-firefighters-day/). [He credited strong support from city leaders and the community for allowing the department to grow and train at a high level—something he says has made Lexington a leader across the state and even the country](https://fox56news.com/news/local/lexington/lexington-mayor-declares-may-4th-international-firefighters-day/).

[The department has served Lexington for more than 150 years and is considered one of the highest-ranked in the country](https://fox56news.com/news/local/lexington/lexington-mayor-declares-may-4th-international-firefighters-day/). [Even the Lexington Police Department participated in the celebration, with a video tribute from Chief Lawrence Weathers](https://fox56news.com/news/local/lexington/lexington-mayor-declares-may-4th-international-firefighters-day/).

## Sources

- [Lexington mayor Linda Gorton declares May 4th International Firefighters' Day](https://fox56news.com/news/local/lexington/lexington-mayor-declares-may-4th-international-firefighters-day/)
- [Lexington firefighters, EMS, honored for International Firefighters Day](https://www.wuky.org/wuky-news/2026-05-04/lexington-firefighters-ems-honored-for-international-firefighters-day)
- [International Firefighters' Day - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Firefighters%27_Day)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) from a press release emailed to editor@lexingtonky.news by City of Lexington Mayor's Office, enriched with 3 web searches.