Elk Creek Fire Rescue logo
Inter-Canyon Fire Rescue logo
North Fork Fire Rescue logo

Considering Consolidation:

A Plan To Ensure A Safer, Sustainable Future

“Nearly every other day, we find ourselves calling on our neighboring fire districts to help us cover an emergency because we’re spread too thin.”

Steve Brown, Board Chair North Fork Fire Protection District

OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES FACE MOUNTING CHALLENGES

1

Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon, and North Fork fire districts serve over 400 square miles in some of the highest-risk wildfire areas in the state.

2

We regularly have to rely on back-up response from neighboring local fire districts, which can slow emergency response time

3

Our population is both growing and aging, increasing demand for calls.

4

We need to be able to update our existing resources and add technical, medical, and safety equipment and training.

5

Each district is experiencing annual increases in calls for service while seeing a continued decline in volunteerism.

6

New equipment is needed & replacements are getting more expensive.

Three years ago a new fire engine cost $600K; today the cost is nearly $1M.

WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS?

We really only have two:

MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO

Managing increased fire risks 
with diminished resources

Competing for volunteers

Fragmented communication, coordination, and sharing of resources 

Response times continue to lag

MOVE TO CONSOLIDATION

Add enough career staffing to have crews providing 24-hour support at a station in each district 

One central dispatch system

Improved response times

Consistent mill levy for everyone 
within the 400- square-mile area

Pooled resources to better
 recruit and retain volunteers

We’re exploring consolidation because a third-party analysis recommended it as the best long-term fire protection and emergency response strategy for the community.

MORE ABOUT CONSOLIDATION

Consolidating allows us to share our resources and leverage operational efficiencies, such as a streamlined dispatch and shared costly equipment.

Raising the mill levy to 16 for all property owners would provide an estimated $1,506,272 annually to be spent on hiring more staff to offset the decrease in volunteers and to cover increased costs of safety/medical equipment and training.

Each district currently has a different mill levy so it depends on where you live and the value of your property, but the average homeowner of a $650,000 home would see an increase of $8-14 a month.

You can use the Property Tax Calculator to determine your specific situation but for each district

HOW WOULD CONSOLIDATION IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE COMMUNITY:

More firefighters, EMTs and paramedics to offset the decrease in volunteers

Streamlined emergency dispatch system for better response times

Replace and purchase new equipment for increased efficiency and quality

Updates & additions to all three district stations to accommodate a 24-hour crew in each

WHAT WOULD A CONSOLIDATED FIRE DISTRICT LOOK LIKE?

It will not look or feel much different for the community other than a new name, plus more paid staff and volunteers. The same local fire stations and friendly faces would include:

A reorganized management structure to support a new district

Streamlined emergency dispatch system

Standardized hiring & training practices

Increased career staffing & volunteer recruitment

Shared knowledge, resources & equipment

RESOURCES

Download our resources to learn more about our consolidation efforts

The Future of Fire Protection Services

June 2023

Download the fact sheet >>
Download the fact sheet >>

Consolidation Fact Sheet

February 2023

Download the Fact Sheet »
Download the Fact Sheet »

Frequently Asked Questions

February 2023

Download FAQs »
Download FAQs »

Cooperative Services Feasibility Study

November 2021

Download the Full Study »
Download the Full Study »

Feasibility Study Highlights

May 2023

Download the Highlights »
Download the Highlights »

Community Survey Results

January 2023

Download the Results »
Download the Results »

ASK A FIRST RESPONDER

As we conduct public outreach to talk to the community about consolidation, we want to hear what’s on your mind. Submit your question using the form below. We’ll choose one question a week to feature on Facebook.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
LATEST ARTICLES

Elk Creek Fire puts consolidation questions on the November ballot

Whether three fire departments along U.S. 285 should consolidate definitely will be on the Nov. 7...

New "Ask A First Responder" videos available on YouTube

Residents are submitting questions to our website about consolidation - and we have answers.

Three Highway 285 mountain communities may have new fire department soon

"It's incredibly dangerous up here," said Greg Pixley, Board President for Elk Creek Fire...

Volunteer organizations across Colorado are seeing a big drop in people willing to help

Organizations around the state and across the country are experiencing a decline in the number of...

State lawmakers target resources to help volunteer fire departments

It’s an unfortunate reality of the time: wildfires in Colorado are getting worse and the...

Small fire departments in Colorado foothills look to combine forces as threats grow

Three fire departments in Colorado's foothills are looking at combining forces as the demand for...

UPCOMING EVENTS
No items found.
LOOK FOR US AT UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

Our Three Fire Protection Districts Looking For Consolidation

Together, the Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon and North Fork Fire Protection Districts are responsible for protecting 20,000 people and hundreds of structures in 400 square miles of some of the highest-risk wildfire areas in the state. And for several years now, each of us has struggled to handle large-scale fire events and emergencies on our own. 

The Boards of Directors and the Chiefs from each of the three districts have been discussing for three years now the best options to ensure the long-term health and safety of the residents of our small mountain communities.

Our Three

Fire Protection

Districts Looking

For Consolidation

Together, the Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon and North Fork Fire Protection Districts are responsible for protecting 20,000 people and hundreds of structures in 400 square miles of some of the highest-risk wildfire areas in the state. And for several years now, each of us has struggled to handle large-scale fire events and emergencies on our own. 

The Boards of Directors and the Chiefs from each of the three districts have been discussing for three years now the best options to ensure the long-term health and safety of the residents of our small mountain communities.

We invite you to learn more about each of the districts and reach out to us with any questions.

Elk Creek Fire Rescue logo

ELK CREEK FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

elkcreekfire.org

Jacob Ware, Chief
jware@elkcreekfire.org

Inter-Canyon Fire Rescue logo

INTER-CANYON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

intercanyonfire.org

Skip Shirlaw, Chief
sshirlaw@icfpd.net

North Fork Fire Rescue logo

NORTH FORK FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

northforkfire.org

Curt Rogers, Chief
nffpd@hotmail.com