LAKEWOOD, Colo. — As numerous wildfires continue to burn along the Front Range, dozens of Colorado firefighters remain on out-of-state deployments.
Wednesday, Colorado Public Safety Director Stan Hilkey asked fire chiefs to consider bringing them back to assist with fires.
“I call upon the chiefs of the fire departments in our state to think about bringing those assets back when it’s most soon practical for them because the state of Colorado needs those resources here as well,” Stan Hilkey said. “We want to make sure that we’re able to deploy those resources as effectively and efficiently as possible as we can.”
The request raised eyebrows with some fire officials. West Metro Fire Rescue Chief Don Lombardi called the comments frustrating.
“When I heard that, I was first disappointed,” Lombardi said. “When resources are sent out, it’s very difficult for us to then pull them back.”
Lombardi said it’s common for Colorado fire departments to deploy small numbers of firefighters to other states to help with major events, typically for two weeks at a time.
Those agreements provide hands-on training, money for the department and assurance they’ll receive help from other agencies if they need it in the future.
Currently, West Metro Fire Rescue has nine firefighters deployed in Wyoming, Nevada and Oregon.
He said pulling them back early would set a dangerous precedent.
“That really sends a poor message, and that takes away from that collaboration, so there’s a lot of mistrust,” he said. “They wouldn’t use us in the future, and then when we needed them, they’d say ‘You know what, we’re not going to be able to help you folks out since you in essence left us high and dry.’”
West Metro Fire Rescue, South Metro Fire Rescue, Denver Fire and Aurora Fire have a combined 54 firefighters on out-of-state assignments.
All four agencies say there are no plans to bring them back early.
Aurora Fire Community Operations Commander Jon Hill said they were asked to extend a deployment in California but have decided not to because Colorado needs the resources.
Hilkey said Thursday he understands the commitment to other states but wants fire departments to evaluate the risk in Colorado.
"I'm simply asking the agencies to consider, if they have the opportunity to do so and when practical, bringing back resources for a time of risk for our state," Hilkey said.