Crested Butte Fire Protection District

16 hours ago

We’re sharing a Letter to the Editor from Captain Randy Felix addressing a question many community members have asked: Why is the new Crested Butte Fire Protection District headquarters station so big? Thank you, Captain Felix, for offering this helpful perspective on the purpose behind your new Station 1.

Why Is the New Crested Butte Fire Protection District Headquarters Station So Big?

As a community member for the past 30 years, a former Crested Butte volunteer firefighter, and now a full-time Captain with the fire district, I'd like to answer that question.

The simple answer: this isn't just Station 1. It's the headquarters for a modern emergency services organization operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, built to meet our community’s service expectations and serve the district for decades to come.

The new Station 1 is much more than a traditional neighborhood fire station that houses a single engine and ambulance. Station 1 is a headquarters station that houses administrative offices, public-accessible training space and meeting rooms, living quarters for personnel working 48-hour shifts, maintenance facilities, and the apparatus bays for our fleet — a command truck, two ambulances, an engine, a tender, a heavy rescue, a ladder truck, and a wildland brush engine. Since all of our stations are not staffed fulltime, it is imperative that we have the necessary apparatus immediately accessible to respond to any emergency.

The adjacent training building serves a similar purpose. For decades, firefighters trained wherever space was available. Now we can run realistic live-fire and emergency response exercises in a safe, controlled environment, supporting the training, continuing education, and employee safety our organization prioritizes and our community expects.

Now for a bit of history on how we got here:

CBFPD became a fire district in 1973; our original Station 1 was built in 1974. For many decades, CBFPD was primarily a volunteer department, with paid positions supplementing a volunteer-driven response. In 2019, a leadership change, rising call volume, increased training requirements, and a shrinking volunteer workforce pushed the district toward a full-time professional staffing model. Today, CBFPD is a combination all-hazards department providing fire protection and critical care advanced life support ambulance service, with personnel trained in structural firefighting, wildland firefighting, technical rescue, hazmat response, swift-water rescue, gas response, auto extrication, emergency medical response and more.

Staffing and coverage today:

CBFPD staffs six operational personnel around the clock on 48-hour shifts. The district also employs a CEO, Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Director of Administration, Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshal, Fire Inspector, Wildland Fire Lieutenant, Training Captain, and a full-time mechanic — all stationed at Station 1, performing functions essential to safe, effective operations.

Beyond Station 1, CBFPD operates three more stations across our 220-square-mile district: Mt. Crested Butte, CB South, and Buckhorn. These help us meet response-time goals, maintain our insurance (PPC) rating, and cover a large geographic area.

That staffing number sounds substantial, but it's quickly stretched thin during emergencies. A typical ambulance transport to Gunnison Valley Hospital ties up two or three personnel for 90 minutes or longer, significantly reducing available staffing district-wide. If another medical call, accident, fire alarm, gas leak, structure fire or any 911 call comes in during that window, remaining personnel must handle it until help arrives.

We supplement full-time staff with a robust part-time program and a few remaining volunteers, all drawn from the community; we train them and often hire full-time from that same pool. Many of our members also bring experience from busy metro systems elsewhere, strengthening our capabilities.

Unlike urban departments, our closest mutual aid is roughly 30 minutes away in Gunnison, so we train extensively to solve complex problems with limited resources — all in service of a two-minute out the door response goal.

Next time you drive by your new Station 1, I hope you better understand why it's the size it is. We outgrew our old station years ago; though it served us well for nearly five decades, it could no longer support the level of service our community expects and deserves. We're proud of this new facility and grateful for the support that made it possible and we look forward to serving the residents and visitors of the Crested Butte Fire Protection District for many years to come.

Proudly serving you and yours,

Randy Felix

Captain, Crested Butte Fire Protection District

President, Crested Butte Search and Rescue ... See MoreSee Less

Crested Butte Fire Protection District

2 days ago

Honoring a Fallen Hero: Procession for Helicopter Pilot Nicholas Dale

Tomorrow, Monday, July 20th, we will honor the memory and sacrifice of helicopter pilot Nicholas Dale as a solemn procession escorts him from Montrose to Denver International Airport.

Nicholas tragically lost his life while protecting our communities during the Gold Mountain Fire wildfire operations. We invite community members along the route to join us in paying their final respects.

📍 Procession Schedule & Route
Departure: 7:00 AM from Crippin Funeral Home in Montrose, CO.

Route: The convoy will travel the I-70 eastbound route.

Key Pass-Through Areas: Major towns along the corridor, specifically Vail and Silverthorne.

Destination: Denver / Denver International Airport by approximately 12:00 PM.

⚠️ Important Safety Guidelines for the Public
To honor Nicholas safely and avoid causing traffic hazards on I-70, please strictly adhere to the following directives from the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and traffic safety officials:

Where to Gather: Please set up safely on overpasses and exit ramps to watch the procession pass.

Where NOT to Gather: Do NOT stand, park, or set up along the shoulders of I-70 or any major highway. Keeping the shoulders entirely clear is vital for public safety and the flow of traffic.

What to Expect: The procession will consist of a small convoy of 7–10 emergency and official vehicles. They will be driving with steady, non-flashing overhead light beams to maintain safety and prevent motorist confusion on the interstate.

Thank you for your cooperation, support, and for helping us honor a hero who gave everything to protect Colorado. ... See MoreSee Less