Weak Ecomony Affects Rural Fire Departments
The ongoing economic slump is putting the squeeze on the budgets and resources of volunteer fire departments, some rural fire chiefs said Thursday.
The chiefs said property taxes, the key source of funding for rural departments, are declining because property values have dropped as much as 20 percent. As a result, departments have less money to fill open positions, build new stations or buy equipment.
Another problem, said the chiefs, is that retaining and training volunteer firefighters has become more difficult because those firefighters work as many as two jobs and are less able to leave those jobs for emergency duties.
The situation became more widely known this week when the Falcon Fire Department, which has four unfilled paid firefighter positions, struggled to transport water to a house fire in a remote area. The house was destroyed.
In another incident, Fountain emergency personnel responded to a medical call after Hanover, the nearest rural district, did not respond sooner. A woman who complained of chest pains was taken to a hospital by helicopter.
Trent Harwig, of Falcon, and Carl Tatum, of Hanover, said their departments are more challenged to quickly and effectively cover areas spanning dozens of square miles.
“Normally, we would have gotten there sooner,” said Tatum of the recent incident in his district. “But it was just one of those days. To get where you are, back to the station to get a vehicle, and to the scene takes time. That’s why we have mutual aid agreements with other departments. The system still works.”
Harwig said in addition to declining property values, his district will lose funding for six firefighter positions when a federal grant expires.
“When property values drop, it takes years for them to recover,” said Harwig. “It could be 10 years before we see the same value in property as it was before this drop.”
To address the situation, three rural fire districts — Falcon, Black Forest and Cimarron Hills — will ask voters for mill levy increases this fall. If successful, the increases will provide several hundred thousand dollars annually. If unsuccessful, those departments likely will be forced to lay off staff.
Additional funds would allow districts to hire staff, possibly build new stations and replace equipment.
“We’re doing all right now, as far as that goes,” said Harwig. “But in the next few years, we’ll have to start replacing fire trucks. They’re expensive — $250,000 to $300,000 apiece.”
Jacalyn Lane, a Falcon homeowner, said she’s willing to pay more taxes to support volunteer fire departments. She’s also prepared to take action.
“I have a little water thing,” she said, pointing to a hose connected a water pump. “If my place caught on fire, I’d be pretty quick at getting the hose out. People need to pitch in a little more.”
Falcon currently has five paid firefighters and 35 volunteers covering 133 square miles from two stations. Hanover has 25 volunteers covering 340 square miles from three stations. Black Forest has 11 paid firefighters and 30 volunteers covering 48 square miles from three stations.
