Longtime firefighter, fire safety advocate to lead state fire commission
Published on Apr 23, 2025
The Kentucky Fire Commission Board has selected Bruce Roberts, a retired firefighter
and longtime advocate for fire safety training, as the new executive director of the
Kentucky Fire Commission. The commission, attached to the Kentucky Community and Technical
College System, provides essential training and certifications for both paid and volunteer
firefighters across the state.
Roberts was appointed executive director earlier this month. He brings decades of experience in fire safety and training to the role. A retired firefighter for the City of Louisville, Roberts was first appointed to the fire commission board in 1994, serving until 2008 when he joined the commission full-time. Since then, he has served in a variety of leadership positions, including division director, deputy director and most recently, interim director since last May.
"Bruce is going to be a great fit — we couldn’t ask for a better person,” said Ricky King, chair of the fire commission board. “His knowledge, experience and deep understanding of the fire commission are exactly what we need.”
The Kentucky Fire Commission plays a vital role in enhancing fire safety and education across the commonwealth. As an agency attached to KCTCS for administrative purposes, its mission is to strengthen, upgrade and improve fire rescue services for individuals, communities and industries throughout the state.
KCTCS President Ryan Quarles said, “Bruce Roberts brings a lifetime of dedication to public service and fire safety, and we are confident in his ability to lead with both vision and purpose. Under his leadership, the Kentucky Fire Commission will continue delivering efficient and effective training and support services for the brave men and women across the commonwealth.”
Roberts is looking forward to his continued service with the commission.
“I am excited to lead the fire commission over the next two years, continuing to provide the firefighters throughout the commonwealth with the most up-to-date training,” he said. “I am also committed to supporting fire departments through legislation to help with the purchasing of protective gear, equipment and grants, ensuring our firefighters can perform their jobs safely while serving the citizens of the commonwealth.
“I would like to thank Dr. Quarles for this opportunity, and I look forward to working closely with KCTCS in the years ahead,” he added.
Key facts about the Kentucky Fire Commission:
- The commission supports more than 14,500 volunteer firefighters and over 4,000 career firefighters statewide.
- In the past year, the agency facilitated 608 Basic 1 Certifications and 439 Basic 2 Certifications.
- Its State Fire Rescue Training division delivered more than 28,600 instructional hours, including fire, industrial and EMS training.
- Nine KCTCS colleges offer an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science Technology, with courses covering fire suppression, technical rescue, emergency medical care and hazardous materials.
- The Fire Commission’s Fire Academy of Kentucky, located at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, provides comprehensive 13-week training for career firefighters and optional certification for volunteers.
For more information or to access resources, visit the commission’s website.
