Our Members

For more than 60 years, Black Forest Fire/Rescue members have pulled together to help protect the lives and property of our neighbors.

Emergency Responders

We have three types of members who respond to fire and medical emergencies. All of these members are held to the same high standards for both fire suppression and medical response.

• Volunteer members do not receive any cash payment in return for their participation, but they are eligible to participate in the Volunteer Firefighter Pension Plan.
• Reserve members receive a small cash stipend, but they do not participate in the Volunteer Firefighter Pension Plan.
• Career staff are full-time employees who receive salary and benefits.

Community members

Community members support the department by volunteering their skills and talents. They usually do not directly respond to calls for emergency services, but may support the emergency response activities of the responding members.

Community members may choose duties that satisfy their personal interests and are consistent with their physical abilities. They do not receive any cash payment in return for their participation, and do not participate in the Volunteer Firefighter Pension Plan.

Response qualifications and capabilities

Most responding member positions require some level of state certification. Some of these certifications require hundreds of training hours to earn. Each member is also required to complete a substantial amount of continuing education each year.

Medical and rescue

Approximately 80% of our calls are for medical emergencies. Therefore, every member of our department is trained to provide CPR.

Responding members must complete emergency medical training to the minimum level of First Responder. However, most of our members are Emergency Medical Technician-Basic or better.

Structure firefighting

Black Forest Fire/Rescue is a member of the North Group of El Paso County fire departments. All North Group departments require the Colorado Firefighter I certification for interior firefighters, and the Firefighter 2 certification for officers.

Wildland firefighting

Black Forest is a heavily wooded rural area in a semi-arid climate, so we put a high priority on wildland firefighting skills. All of our wildland firefighters are trained to the same standards as Federal wildland firefighting crews: the S130/S190 Basic Wildland Firefighter course.