Company Description

The Cortez Fire Protection District encompasses 162 square miles of territory. Within these boundaries are farm lands, commercial properties, major U.S. Highways and the City of Cortez. The fire district operates out of three fire stations, one of which is manned by four certified personnel 24/7/365, while the other two are volunteer unmanned stations. Each station house a minimum of one structural fire apparatus, one brush truck and one water tender.

Around 1886 the first resemblance of a fire department began with a few dedicated men. These men involved ranchers, miners and townsmen. The first formal Fire Department was formed in 1911 due to the recognized need of the small community at the time. This first fire department provided protection to the City of Cortez. The initial equipment purchased consisted of a two-wheeled hose cart which would hooked up to a wagon or even horse drawn. It was operated solely by man power and housed in the back of where the Wilson Building now stands.

Since that time both the community and the fire service in Cortez have evolved. In 1986 the Cortez Fire Protection District was formed and a greater response area was designated. Having out grown the minimal financial support the City of Cortez was able to provide, the development of a Fire Protection District was the most logical step.

In 2008 the Cortez Fire Protection District Board recognized a need for a paid Fire Chief due to call loads and an increase in administrative requirements. 2008 also saw the implementation of Reserve Firefighters staffing the station initially only during day time hours and then to twenty-four hours shifts. This staffing allowed for decreased response times for emergency calls and the ability to cover a wider variety of emergency calls to include medical emergencies.

In 2012, after being awarded a federal grant, the Cortez Fire Protection District hired there first six career firefighters. Four of these individuals came from within the volunteer/reserve ranks with two coming from outside the area.