Fire Chief

Overview

The Cañon City Area Fire Protection District is seeking qualified applicants to serve as the next Fire Chief. To view the full job posting go to:

The Cañon City Area Fire Protection District (aka Cañon City Fire District) serves approximately 35,000 people in Cañon City, CO and portions of the surrounding unincorporated Fremont County area. It is located on the edge of the Arkansas Valley, about 40 miles west of Pueblo, CO, less than an hour southwest of Colorado Springs, and a two-hour drive from Denver. The District is a growing combination career/volunteer fire suppression district that responds to over 4,400 calls annually and operates out of three staffed stations with an operating budget of around 7 million dollars.

Wildland response and operations cover approximately 86% of the 125 square miles of the District. The District maintains an ISO Public Protection Classification Rating of 2/2Y. The District’s training facility is a vital asset used by local, regional, and State agencies for numerous training activities.

Today the District operates out of three stations. Firefighters work a modified Kelly schedule of 24-hour shifts staffing three stations 24/7, with total hours per work week of 56 hours. The District staffing includes the Fire Chief, an Assistant Fire Chief, a Division Chief of Training, two Life Safety Inspectors, 48 suppression personnel ranging from Firefighter to Battalion Chief, one Executive Assistant, one Administrative Assistant, one Receptionist, and 20 volunteers.

The District owns and maintains a fleet of apparatus including two aerial ladder trucks, five pumper engines, four wildland trucks, two rescue trucks, three Chief’s vehicles, and a 2,000-gallon water tender for non-hydranted sites. Fremont County E911 Authority (Frecom 911) provides dispatch services. The District is governed by a five-member Board elected at large, with elections in May of every odd-numbered year.

Cañon City and the Surrounding Area

Cañon City is the county seat in Fremont County and is known for outdoor recreation and the Royal Gorge. The area offers 300+ days of sunshine and attractions such as hiking, biking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, camping, fishing, golf, and nearby venues like the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park and more. The region includes educational institutions, healthcare facilities, private and public schools, and local employers including state and federal facilities.

The Position

The Fire Chief is the District’s Chief Executive Officer and reports to the District Board of Directors. This position manages, supervises, plans, and coordinates all aspects of the Fire District, including fire/emergency operations, administration, training, fire safety and prevention, HAZMAT mitigation, personnel management (sworn, non-sworn, and volunteers), labor-management relations, finance and budgets, and public relations.

The Fire Chief will develop and monitor annual operating and capital budgets and manage financial records; make recommendations to the Board on personnel, apparatus, and equipment; participate in long-range strategic planning with the Board; conduct public meetings and issue notices related to safety and hazards; direct and oversee staff recruitment, retention, and ongoing training to ensure proper staffing and competence; and supervise the promotional examination process.

The Fire Chief coordinates mutual-aid planning with surrounding communities and participates in local, state, and national fire associations. The Fire Chief strategically plans for the department’s long-range future with the Board, surrounding communities, and the state. He/she must have a working knowledge of C.R.S. Title 32 Special District Laws, State and Federal regulations, and recognized industry standards.

This is a 40-hour-per-week position, but the Fire Chief is expected to respond to large incidents and may respond to smaller incidents depending on shift staffing. The position requires meeting the District’s physical fitness standards, maintaining a valid Colorado Driver’s License, and residing within or relocating to the District boundaries.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an…