A delegation of firefighters and emergency officials from Olomouc, Czech Republic, arrived in Owensboro this week as part of the Sister Cities Firefighter Exchange Program, renewing a decades-old international partnership focused on public safety and cultural exchange.
Owensboro Fire Chief James Howard said the visit mirrors one made by local firefighters to Olomouc about a year and a half ago. The program includes both leadership and hands-on training exchanges between the departments.
“This trip has been planned for months to allow officials from Olomouc to meet with our people, see our equipment and facilities, and continue building the relationships we’ve developed during past visits,” Howard said. “It’s all about learning from one another and strengthening the ties between our cities.”
The group, which includes an elected official, several paid and volunteer firefighters, and emergency management leaders, began their visit with an official welcome at City Hall, where they met Mayor Tom Watson and City officials. Owensboro Fire Department’s honor guard participated in the ceremony before the delegation toured the Walter Freeman Fire Training Facility for live demonstrations.
Howard said guests observed live fire burns and rope rescue exercises, toured fire stations, and joined OFD personnel for a traditional firehouse meal. The day also included a stop at the Station 3 construction site to see progress on the City’s ongoing Operation Firehouse initiative, followed by an overview of the department’s structure and emergency response strategies.
“We talked about the risks we respond to, from natural disasters to emerging threats like battery technology and cyber incidents,” Howard said. “We share many of the same challenges despite being on opposite sides of the world.”
The Owensboro and Olomouc departments first connected in the late 1990s through the Sister Cities program, but Howard said the relationship had gone mostly dormant until recently.
“I feel really fortunate to be part of this new phase,” he said. “It’s reinvigorated, and I think it bodes really well for the future of our department. We’ve made genuine friendships, and programs like this remind us how small the world really is.”
Howard said he was especially proud of his department’s role as ambassadors for the community.
“When you host guests like this, you start to see yourself through their eyes,” he said. “I think our people made Owensboro proud today. They represented the city and the fire service incredibly well.”
The Sister Cities program, established under President Dwight Eisenhower, connects communities around the world to promote cultural understanding. Owensboro’s two sister cities are Olomouc, Czech Republic, and Nisshin, Japan.
The Czech delegation will continue its visit Friday with the Daviess County Fire Department, observing both paid and volunteer crews to gain a broader understanding of the local emergency response system.
