Aurora Fire Rescue

Aurora Fire Rescue is pleased to share an update on the planned rebuild of Station 9: The site plan will be reviewed by the Aurora Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday, November 13. Pending their approval and the permitting process, construction on the new building will begin in early 2025. During the construction process, the Station 9 crews will operate from a nearby station and continue to serve the local community. The existing 1979 building has structural damage and the planned two-story replacement will better serve the growing needs of the city of Aurora. The project is funded by ARPA, or American Rescue Plan Act, funds. Visit auroragov.org/PC if you’d like to attend the November 13 meeting or participate in the public hearing. 

The Wildland specialty teams at Aurora Fire Rescue and the Denver Fire Department received high praise from the crew boss and officer in charge of the Denver Suppression Module for assignments in Montana and Wyoming earlier this fall. For the first time in history, the Denver Mod was staffed as a cooperation between Denver and Aurora firefighters. The wildland handcrew were assigned to the Johnson Fire outside of Sula, Montana, on September 2. The fire was 3,810 acres and the major threat was to a veteran's community of cabins and residences near the fire. While assigned to the Johnson fire, the Denver Mod took part in a variety of tasks including direct and indirect fire line construction, firing and holding operations during large and complex burns, as well as coordinating with and directing the use of aircraft for fire suppression. The crew worked together with multiple federal resources during many long shifts and complex operations. Following a significant rain event on September 11 and September 12, the Denver Mod was reassigned to a new and fast-spreading fire outside of Douglas, Wyoming, called the LaBonte Fire. Arriving on September 14, the Denver Mod was met with an evolving incident with rapid fire growth and multiple structures threatened. Again, the Denver Mod worked on direct and indirect fire line construction and was responsible for preventing the fire from moving laterally along a steep and rocky hillside, which was directly in line with a luxury ranch house. The crew worked with both federal and local agencies to secure this edge of the fire and directed multiple Type 1 and Type 2 helicopters to assist in water drops in the steep and craggy terrain. For the remainder of the assignment the Denver Mod worked alongside multiple federal crews to secure the fire’s edge on the difficult-to-access north ridge of the fire, hiking in and out each day. “I simply cannot speak highly enough of the strong work ethic, positive attitudes and how quickly the members from both departments came together to form a tight-knit, high-performing team,” said Denver Mod Crew Boss and DFD Engine Co. 23 Captain Eric Tolland. “It was the first time a cooperation like this has taken place for the Denver Mod and such successes should be captured and recognized.” City and County of Denver

The Civil Service Commission for the city of Aurora, Colorado, is now accepting both Entry-Level and Fast-Track Lateral Firefighter applications for Aurora Fire Rescue. The application deadline for both positions is set to close in December 2024 but either may close at any point if we have a sufficient pool of candidates. With nearly 500 firefighters and 17 fire stations serving a city with a growing population of over 390,000 and a diverse business environment, AFR responded to over 55,000 calls for service in 2023, including 1,263 fire responses. We are an all-hazards department with Hazmat, Technical Rescue, Wildlands and Swift Water specialty teams. AFR’s rates for cardiac arrest resuscitation are double the national average. Visit AuroraGov.org/JoinAFR to apply and learn more about the salary rates, minimum qualifications and benefits. Visit our YouTube channel at https://lnkd.in/gZSmutvT to learn more about our department and the fire academy.

K9 Frank and Handler Aurora Fire Rescue Lt. Jason Kester have been deployed with FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Colorado Task Force One to support areas affected by Hurricane Milton. Lt. Kester and Frank have assisted with searching and surveying in the days following Milton's landfall and are making contact with citizens to see how they are doing and provide information on aid. They are among over 70 COTF1 members and numerous other FEMA teams deployed to provide aid in the Florida area.

The Aurora Civil Service Commission is now accepting Lateral Firefighter applications for Aurora Fire Rescue. The next Fast-Track Lateral Fire Academy is projected to begin on April 7, 2025. Aurora Fire Rescue is an all-hazards department with a total of 17 fire stations serving Aurora, Colorado, a city with a growing population of over 390,000 and a diverse business environment. AFR maintains an ISO Class 1 rating which is the highest possible public protection classification. The job advertisement is set to close on December 2, 2024, at 11:59 pm. This is subject to close at any point if we have a sufficient pool of candidates. Successful candidates may be hired early and receive compensation in advance of the academy start date as a full-time administrative Fire Cadet. We recommend that every lateral applicant also submit an entry-level application (to be posted soon) to be considered in BOTH processes. Visit AuroraGov.org/JoinAFR to apply and learn more about the salary rates, minimum qualifications and benefits.

Several members of Aurora Fire Rescue are embedded in the Hurricane Helene disaster areas, conducting Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) efforts as assigned with Colorado Task Force 1 (COTF1). Helene is the deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As the death toll exceeds 190 people and is rising, the rescue efforts of COTF1 become increasingly more valuable. AFR members continue to answer the call to respond to multiple areas across the USA serving in disasters that severely impact our fellow citizens.

Continuing our celebration of Firefighter Appreciation Month, Aurora Fire Rescue honors Fire Station 7 and their dedication to service. Station 7 had the highest call volume of 2023, responding to 5,701 calls for help (Fire Station 2 had the second-most with 5,696 calls). Station 7 houses a Battalion Chief, an Engine company and a Rescue. The Battalion Chief oversees Fire Stations 2, 4, 7 and 11. Engine 7 is the backbone of the station, responding to all calls for help. The Rescue is staffed three days a week with voluntary overtime by a paramedic and an EMT, and it is primarily responsible for medical calls. The Station is home to 19 firefighters and three Battalion Chiefs, each working a 24-hour shift every third day. Station 7 is managed by Fire Captain Chis Shannon, who oversees three shifts, each with one Fire Lieutenant and four firefighters. Captain Shannon started his fire career in 2002 as a volunteer in northern Colorado. Since then, he was hired with AFR in 2007, promoted to Lieutenant in 2019, and promoted again to Captain in 2022. He continues to serve the community and wants to create a positive work environment at Station 7. Earlier this week, Captain Shannon was deployed with Colorado Task Force 1 to provide disaster assistance in Florida during Hurricane Helene. Station 7 significantly impacts the community it serves, particularly the Heather Gardens active adult community. This community opened its doors around the same time as Station 7. With over 2,400 units, Heather Gardens is a home for 3,800 older adults. Heather Gardens has a unique bond with the first responders at Station 7. The community often reaches out to the fire crews for assistance and deeply appreciates their support. This special relationship has led to fire Station 7 being affectionately nicknamed "Heather Guardians," although their official mascot is "Lucky Sevens." In previous times, it was known as "Blackhawk's Bravest." A Native American tribe gave AFR permission to use the name which refers to the street that Station 7 sits on, at 2290 South Blackhawk Street. The station opened its doors on August 7, 1974. At that time, the station hosted one Fire Engine and added a Rescue Squad in the 1980s. In 2003, the station expanded, adding a basement and private bedrooms for firefighters. In 2017, the city remodeled it again with health and safety improvements, adding protection from toxic diesel exhaust.

It’s Firefighter Appreciation Month and we’d like to recognize four individuals who received awards earlier this year for outstanding service to the department in 2023. The 2024 recipients of these department honors will be recognized next spring. Several Aurora Fire Rescue members are already exhibiting exceptional heroism worthy of recognition. These members were nominated by their peers and AFR command staff and ultimately were selected by fire service leaders across the U.S. for excellence in the fire service. Their accomplishments and achievements are a testament to the great progress AFR continues to make as it strives to lead the nation in fire, rescue and emergency services. Fire Medic Nick Anderson was named Paramedic of the Year. Anderson is a dedicated instructor and a go-to paramedic when both peers and supervisors have questions on protocols. Captain Toby Lippman was selected as Staff Officer of the Year for professional excellence, integrity and commitment to quality. Fire Medic Ben Norwood was named AFR Firefighter of the Year in recognition of consistently demonstrating high standards of courage, professional excellence, moral integrity and commitment to quality. AFR’s most coveted honor is the Joe Lewand Award for Excellence in the Fire Service. Serving Aurora Fire after World War II, Lewand dedicated his life to the fire service, developing and teaching formal training programs for AFR as well as fire science curriculum at the Red Rocks Campus of the Community College of Denver. Captain Jason Haley was the recipient of the 2023 Joe Lewand Award for Excellence in Fire Service. Haley has had a significant role in the development and implementation of first-due officer procedures for structure fires and in developing a task book to formalize and enhance technical rescue training. Please join us in congratulating these individuals for their accomplishments and in thanking all AFR members for their service and dedication to the city of Aurora.

At the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial this weekend, Aurora Fire Rescue's Recruit Class 24-02 had the important task of packaging flags for safe shipping to hometowns across the United States and Canada. Each flag had been presented to the family of a fallen firefighter by members of an honor guard and represents the sacrifice made by the firefighter and their family. For the past several years, every AFR recruit class has participated in a community service project, and this was the 24-02 class project. The AFR Recruit Cadre thanks Colorado Springs Fire Department and Colorado Springs Firefighters Local 5 for allowing our recruits the honor to be trusted with such an important part of the memorial.

Aurora Fire Rescue’s Engine 2B and Falck Rocky Mountain Basic 506 crews were reunited with the man whose life they saved after he went into cardiac arrest. Joe Aguirre met with the crews to express his appreciation for their lifesaving actions and to join in presenting the crews with an Aurora Fire Rescue Phoenix Award. The Phoenix Awards are presented to AFR crews in recognition for their outstanding emergency services when a patient who receives CPR is revived and leaves the hospital neurologically intact. Joe’s survival is due to the crews' outstanding actions involving defibrillation, airway management and high-quality CPR. https://lnkd.in/gbbuy7ky