firefighters
-
Busy wildfire season tests US fire bosses as they juggle resources to stay ahead | OUT WEST ROUNDUP
NEW MEXICO Wildfires challenge resources ALBUQUERQUE — It’s already been a deadly year for firefighters, and authorities have been putting resources where they can more quickly pounce on wildfires before they get out of hand and increase the possibility of additional loss of life and property. Fire managers try to anticipate nature’s next move, placing…
-
United Way of Southern Colorado calls for donations, anticipates long recovery from Aspen Acres fire
As firefighters battle the Aspen Acres fire, the United Way of Southern Colorado is helping those displaced by the blaze. “This is going to take months and months to recover from,” said Shanna Farmer, president and CEO of the nonprofit, who noted the full scope of the disaster is unknown. The United Way of Southern…
-
Aspen Acres fire grows to 10th-largest in Colorado history; incident team from Alaska takes charge
The Aspen Acres fire plume towered over Custer and Pueblo counties on Thursday as the blaze continued to grow in size in extremely hot, dry and windy weather. “I’ve been a firefighter for 40 years and I’ve never seen conditions like we’re seeing,” Mike Morgan, director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control,…
-
Colorado academy trains next generation of wildland firefighters
Wildfire activity is on the upswing in Colorado and across the U.S., and state firefighting and incident management agencies are stepping up their efforts to keep up with the changes. “In the past, firefighters gained skills gradually over many seasons,” said Schelly Olson, spokeswoman for the Colorado Wildland Fire and Incident Management Academy. “They no…
-
Put a moratorium on plastic pipes to protect our firefighters | OPINION
By Stephen Clapham It may shock people to learn that cancer is the most dangerous threat to firefighter health and safety. In fact, cancer is the leading cause of fire fighter line-of-duty deaths. The risk from cancer can in large part be traced back to the increased use of chemical and plastic materials in much…
-
Aurora firefighters union may seek entry into consent decree lawsuit, appeals court rules
The union representing Aurora’s firefighters could be allowed to join the litigation between the city and the state that resulted in a consent decree addressing unlawful police and paramedic behavior, Colorado’s second-highest court ruled last week. The agreement to reform the city’s policies came after Attorney General Phil Weiser released a report in 2021 documenting…
-
Deadline extended for public survey about next Aurora fire chief
Aurora residents now get more time to participate in a survey that could help shape strategies used to recruit Aurora’s next fire chief. The recruiting firm leading the national search CPS HR Consulting extended the survey deadline until 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, city officials announced late last week. It can be found at EngageAurora.org/FireChiefSearch.…
-
Neguse presses for higher pay for wildland firefighters
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, along with several House colleagues, is urging Congress to raise the pay for federal wildland firefighters as they battle tinder-dry conditions across the country, particularly in the West. In Colorado, experts say the conditions have cranked up April’s fire risk to what the state would normally see in the summer. In…
-
Colorado bill honors fallen firefighter through required reporting of controlled burns
Five months ago, volunteer firefighter Darcy Stallings was responding to a reported fire when he crashed into the back of a semi-truck, dying at the scene. After his death, it was revealed that the blaze he was responding to was a controlled burn, not an emergency. The family of 34-year-old Stallings said he would not…
-
This Week at the Capitol: April 23-27
Here are the legislative committee hearings of note for the week ahead at the Colorado Capitol. Committee schedules are subject to change. The daily schedule is available on the legislature’s website. Click here and scroll down to committee hearings to listen online. MONDAY Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee, 1:30 p.m., Room 357 Senate Concurrent Resolution…