GOLDEN—Retirement was looking good for Alicia Welch. After more than 26 years in the Los Angeles Fire Department, she moved to Golden and was skiing, mountain biking, and was learning to play golf. Then she saw that the Golden Fire Department needed a new fire chief. Those golf clubs would have to be used on weekends.
“Firefighting - it really is a calling - as cheesy as kind of that sounds, you’re called to it,” Welch said. “This profession isn’t where you just kind of get your gold watch and move on - it’s a part of you, it’s a lifestyle.”
Welch was sworn in on Monday morning and is now one of about 50 female fire chiefs in the country. It is a distinction that has brought her a lot of media attention - something she is not used to experiencing.
“It’s a little uncomfortable,” Welch said. “We are the type of people who just want to get to work, we want to help people, we want to be of service... We’re not used to having a lot of attention on us.”
Welch said she had not been looking for a job when she moved to Colorado in 2017. She was enjoying the Colorado lifestyle and her new home in Golden. She saw the opening for the position Chief John Bales had held since 2001 and decided to compete for it. The department had 60 candidates from across the country apply, and she learned on Nov. 4 that she got the job.
“These last few weeks have really been a time for me to reflect on the hard work and the dedication to this profession, on my education, on building relationships in my network, and it feels like I really accomplished something and I’ve been recognized for that work,” Welch said.
The Golden Fire Department is about 80 percent volunteer. Welch said the dedication of those volunteers is part of what attracted her to the position. Ten percent of the department is female, and Welch said that while that is above the national average, she hopes that number rises.
“It’s not enough, as far as I’m concerned,” Welch said. “I believe that if our community is made up of 50 percent women - if we’re going to be very good customer servants here, we should be more of a makeup that’s closer to the population of the city.
“For women who can fit that kind of schedule, and can take the physical and mental challenge, I’d love to have them here in Golden.”
As for her distinction of being one of just a few women leading fire departments across the county, Welch said it was not the kind of attention she was looking for, but quickly realized how the news could affect others.
“If you would’ve asked me two weeks ago, I would’ve told you that I wish the attention could be on my qualifications and my skillset,” Welch said. “But what I’ve reflected on these last couple weeks is how a person like myself achieving role or position like this inspires others - not only little girls or women, but people of color - can see if you work hard and dedicate yourself to something, that you can achieve big dreams too.”
Welch said she has had many highlights in her career, one being focusing on hiring diverse employees for the Los Angeles Fire Department. She said she also enjoys the education part of the job and working with the community.
“To be part of a small town fire department like this, and to have that helmet and to wear this badge - it really means something to me,” Welch said.