The mission of the Authority is to provide fire suppression of buildings, wildland and vehicle, emergency medical services/ambulance service including patient transport, rescue (water, rope, confined space, vehicle), fire prevention, fire code enforcement, public education, hazardous material response, to a population of 45,000 in approximately 325 square miles of southwestern Colorado.
The Authority staffs three stations 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Station One is located in Bodo Industrial Park, Station Two is located in central Durango and Station 15 is located north of Durango near the Durango Mountain Resort.
Each of the staffed stations has a company that includes a captain, engineer, firefighters and paramedics.
The Authority operates 13 volunteer and residence fire stations.
The Authority is not empowered to levy a tax, and is funded by assessments from the three founding entities. The Durango Fire & Rescue Authority is governed by a seven-member board of directors made up of two representatives from each founding entity and one member selected at large. The governing board is responsible for, among other things, adopting the budget, appointing committees, and hiring the Authority’s fire chief. The fire chief is responsible for carrying out the policies of the board of directors, for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Authority
The Animas Fire Protection District encompasses about 280 square miles and is one of the partners to Durango Fire Rescue Authority. They surround the City of Durango and extend in each geographic location. They protect residential, commercial, agricultural, and areas of significant wildland interface.
Their main goal is to fund Durango Fire Rescue Authority according to the approved agreement and assure that their constituents are receiving quality Emergency Services. Their major source of revenues is through property taxes. Fifty-three percent of the District’s property tax base is from oil and gas production. The balance of the District’s property tax base is from rural residential and commercial property within their jurisdiction. The District’s heavy dependency on natural gas production, subjects its’ property tax base to market fluctuations.
The Hermosa Cliff Fire Protection District’s encompasses about 35 square miles and is located on the north end of La Plata County and the southern end of San Juan County. This area represents mountainous terrain and is high in recreational activities; skiing, snowmobiling hiking, climbing (rock and ice), horseback riding and biking. They protect residential, commercial, resort, and areas of significant wildland interface.
Their main goal is to fund Durango Fire Rescue Authority according to the approved agreement and assure that their constituents are receiving quality Emergency Services. Their major source of revenues is through property taxes. The District’s valuation is from agricultural, rural residential and commercial property in northern La Plata County, including the Resorts of Durango Mountain, Tamarron, Glacier Club, Silver Pick and others.
In 2006, an election was held to move forward to create DFRA as a Special District and as outlined in their Service Plan. The community agreed and supported the creation of Durango Fire Protection District and their Board of Directors, however they declined to approve a tax to fund the District. The current Board’s purpose is to work with DFRA, Animas and Hermosa to pursue a permanent long-term funding solution to support the future operations and capital viability of the fire department.
