About Us

A Message from Fire Chief Jim Cloud

Thanks to community support for the Public Safety Tax, the department has been able to secure resources that have proven to be very timely -- calls-for-service have increased to over 8200 a year. The department completed a Fire Department Performance and Resource Study which helped to identify the many positive attributes of the department as well as helping to plot out resource needs to continue to maintain service levels for the community into the future.

The Fire Department is dedicated to:

• Minimizing civilian casualties and property loss due to fire.
• Providing quality emergency medical care and ambulance transport services.
• Providing specialized services to accomplish underwater rescue and recovery, high angle and trench rescue, swift water rescue, extrication service and hazardous materials response.
• Providing public awareness training and education.
• Conducting fire investigations as warranted.
• Conducting building inspections and plan review.
• Facilitating city and community emergency preparedness.

Department Overview:

• Operates from six fire stations throughout the City of Westminster to quickly respond to home or building structure fires, vehicle fires, or fires of any nature.
• Addresses water rescues, hazardous materials, technical rescues, and other emergency responses.
• Offers advanced life support emergency medical and ambulance transport services.
• Provides four full time ambulances and six fire engines, all equipped with appropriate medical equipment for life support services.
• Prepares for and responds to large scale disasters through the City’s emergency management program, managed by the Fire Department.

2007/2008 Achievements:

• Completed two Fire Department Citizen Academy programs.
• Completed two firefighter training academies; filled over 11 vacancies.
• Purchased 105 ft. aerial truck, fire truck, two ambulances, and a wildland firefighting truck to ensure continued high quality service to Westminster citizens.
• Received a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant to provide the Home Safety for Older Adults program.
• Received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant to purchase fire hose, nozzles, and self contained breathing apparatus.
• Completed the implementation of the TeleStaff automated staffing software to manage human resources effectively.
• Completed the first Officer Development Class; 15 personnel completed a 15 week course to better prepare them to be supervisors.
• Placed a fifth ambulance in service as staffing permits.
• Replaced the emergency medical dispatch information system with a comprehensive system that enhances a dispatcher’s ability to provide emergency medial advice to citizens.

2009/2110 Objectives:

• In 2009 replace Heavy Rescue Unit to enhance technical rescue operations throughout the City and replace an ambulance to maintain an operational emergency medical fleet.
• In 2010 replace a fire engine and ambulance to maintain an operational emergency response fleet.
• Complete design/planning for a new burn building that will enhance the training and safety of firefighting personnel in 2009; initiate construction of the burn building in 2010.
• Conduct a second Fire Officer Development program for aspiring supervisors and a training academy to fill vacancies due to attrition.
• Initiate the installation of a new station alerting system to replace an older system that is in disrepair.