Aurora Fire Rescue

Aurora Fire Rescue's PIO team is growing! Please Like/Share to spread the word about the following Community Engagement Coordinator/Public Information Officer position. Applications will be accepted until April 8. https://lnkd.in/gT6x2She

Making way to build a new firehouse, Aurora Fire Rescue began demolishing Station 9 at 17200 E. Mexico Ave. today. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new station is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, March 28. The event will be open to the public and all are welcome! Built in 1979, Station 9 has operated as a single-company house, with one fire engine and a four-person crew, serving the community and having an integral role of Aurora’s Ward III for nearly five decades. Originally designed with an open bunk room, it was later retrofitted with individual dorm rooms, though limited space left no room for doors. A new firehouse will be constructed where the former station stood. A 2016 facility assessment concluded that the existing structure no longer meets the needs of the department or its personnel. Over the years, shifting soil caused structural damage, including cracks and gaps between walls and floors, further exacerbating the station's inadequacy and ultimately prompting the decision to build a new station rather than renovate the existing space. The new Station 9 will be a 12,000-square-foot, two-story metal facility. The upgraded station will include 11 dorm rooms, eight bathrooms, a fitness room, kitchen and dining area, day room, offices, utility spaces, and a double-length 3-bay apparatus bay. The expanded space will also allow the station to potentially host an additional company in the future. Construction and demolition costs are estimated at $9.3 million, with funding provided primarily through the American Rescue Plan Act. The Station 9 crew, temporarily relocated to Station 8, will continue to serve the local area throughout the construction phase, which is anticipated to span approximately 9-12 months. Station 9 is not AFR’s oldest station – that distinction goes to Station 4 which was built in 1966. However, the Station 9 build was prioritized given its structural damage.

For the first time in our department history, AFR has assigned four Battalion Chiefs (BCs) to our Community Medical Services branch to bring added EMS leadership to our department. Three of the four EMS Battalion Chief positions will work 24-hour shifts and will provide department wide EMS oversight in the field. One of the EMS BCs will hold a 40-hour weekly schedule and will be responsible for project management to support the Community Medical Services branch. Battalion 5, the 24-hour EMS BC, is housed at Fire Station 11 near Iliff and Havana. This action aligns with our focus on continuing to enhance oversight of our emergency medical procedures and incidents, and it aligns with the 7th goal of AFR’s strategic plan to lead the nation in operational service delivery to our Aurora community. Congratulations to Dave Campbell, Paul Cordova, Joe Hill and Tony Krenz on their recent promotions to this incredibly valuable leadership role.

Aurora Fire Rescue is seeking a Senior Business Systems Analyst to join our team. Please like/share to help us spread the word!

Aurora Fire Rescue is incredibly grateful for our strong community partnerships, and we are reminded once again how wonderful The Rotary Club of Aurora is! The Rotarians have been raising funds to purchase a fire safety trailer for AFR that will help us bring interactive fire safety education to the community, and their support doesn’t stop there. The Rotary Club presents biannual Eagle Awards to AFR members, and the first award recipient of 2025 is Lieutenant Justin Brown. Lt. Brown has served Aurora since December of 2001 and was selected for the award based on his dedication and time spent organizing AFR’s participation in the Denver 9/11 Stair Climb. Lt. Brown ensures that AFR is among the top participating agencies at this deeply meaningful memorial tribute. We are humbled by the Aurora Rotary Club’s support and thank them for their commitment to our community.

“We’re doing this job to save lives. This is the epitome of why we’re doing this job.” – Eric Hill, MD., Aurora Fire Rescue Medical Director Aurora Fire Rescue presented Engine 13 C-Shift, and Falck Rocky Mountain Medic 105 with Phoenix Awards at a reunion with their former patient, James Christensen. They last saw Mr. Christensen after he suffered a cardiac arrest while playing basketball. With the help of an Aurora911 Emergency Communications Specialist on the phone, Mr. Christensen’s friends quickly performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to revive him. AFR and Falck provided advanced life support care and transported Mr. Christensen to the hospital where he received additional treatment. Mr. Christensen is currently undergoing cardiac rehabilitation, and he is grateful for the quick actions of this friends, colleagues, and first responders who saved his life. The award ceremony provided a sense of closure for everyone involved and highlighted the importance of teamwork, training, and community. A community prepared for emergencies is incredibly important, and learning CPR may help save the life of someone you know.

Aurora Fire Rescue’s Engine, Ladder, and Heavy Rescue 5 crew jumped into the weekend with some serious training. Our firefighters tackled a tough situation where a victim was trapped in a burning building, and ladders couldn’t reach them. To make the rescue, they had to rappel down using a rope system – all while battling low visibility from (theatrical) smoke. ? While high-rise rescues like this are rare, they’re also incredibly high-risk. That’s why our crews train regularly for these scenarios, ensuring we're prepared whenever the situation demands it. ? At home, you can stay prepared by practicing your fire escape plan with your family. While we don’t want anyone rappelling, knowing your exits and staying calm under pressure can make all the difference. Stay ready, Aurora.

The City of Aurora is looking for a rock star GIS/Data Analyst for public safety, supporting Aurora Fire Rescue as well as the Aurora Colorado Police Department and Aurora911. Please Like/Share to spread the word! https://lnkd.in/gXXEFQih

We couldn’t agree more that Aurora Fire Rescue’s Medical Director Dr. Eric Hill is to be commended for his “unrelenting dedication to the practice of medicine and extraordinary personal commitment to championing Colorado’s EMS system.” Please join us in congratulating Dr. Hill for being selected for the Physician Advocate Award by the Colorado chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Wildfires are a year-round threat! Earlier this week, our crews extinguished a brush fire in Aurora. ?? Join Aurora Fire Rescue tonight, 2/5, at 6 p.m. in-person or virtually to celebrate the Brush Engine 13 crew's return from battling the historic Los Angeles wildfires, and at the same time gain valuable tips for preparing for wildfires and other emergencies locally. ? Our Wildfire Community Q&A will be held at 6 p.m. tonight at the Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy, or you can watch it livestreamed from our YouTube channel (@ AuroraFireRescue) here -- https://lnkd.in/gsPtD5kK