LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mayor Linda Gorton recognized the Lexington Fire Department in honor of International Firefighters' Day, signing a proclamation that officially declares May 4 as International Firefighters' Day in the city.

The recognition ceremony included Fire Chief Jason Wells, who accepted the proclamation on behalf of the department. Gorton's declaration highlighted the bravery and commitment of firefighters to community safety.

International Firefighters' Day is observed annually on May 4, a date that coincides with St. Florian's Day, the patron saint of firefighters.

Wells emphasized that modern firefighting extends well beyond traditional emergency response. "Three-quarters of our calls are not fire-related; they may be medical-related, they may be vehicle collisions, they may be things like technical rescues or hazardous materials situations," Wells said in a statement. "Our people are really trained in multiple disciplines and able to respond to any emergencies that come up."

The Lexington Fire Department is the largest single department in Kentucky with 24 stations and 620 personnel, providing both fire and EMS to nearly 286 square miles and 322,000 people.