For West Metro Fire Rescue, 2022 was an extremely busy year with a record number of calls. And a year where the district added new resources to continue to provide a high level of service. From New Year’s Day in January to New Year’s Eve in December, our firefighters responded to 41,234 emergencies, a five
As bitterly cold weather finds its way into Colorado, you may be lighting the fireplace or plugging in a space heater to stay warm. From late fall to early spring, when the forecast calls for freezing temperatures, West Metro sees an increase in home heating fires. Even a small fire can cause thousands of dollars
Crawling on their hands and knees inside a blackened perimeter, a class of would-be wildland fire investigators is looking for clues to determine the origin and cause of the fire. It’s painstaking work as several groups of students dig through charred vegetation and ash, searching for the smallest piece of evidence that will help them
West Metro Fire Rescue has received Accredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), an honor held by just 301 fire service agencies around the world. West Metro has held accredited agency status since 2012. This reaccreditation marks the third time that the commission has evaluated West Metro, focusing on the level
An estimated 360,000 residential house fires occur in the U.S. every year, claiming the lives of nearly 40,000 beloved pets. And 1,000 of those fires are unintentionally started by the pets themselves. Prevention is an important part of fire safety, and so is having an escape plan to keep your family and your pet(s) safe
Warmer than normal temperatures this year have set off Colorado’s annual snowmelt a few weeks early. And, because of that, federal data is forecasting statewide streamflow to be 86 percent of average for the 2022 season. Even so, Colorado’s creeks and rivers will see rising water levels with fast moving, icy currents that could pose
Driven by hurricane force winds, the Marshall Fire in Boulder County late December was an unstoppable force. What began as a small fire spread through neighborhoods and commercial areas, destroying more than a thousand structures, and damaging more than a hundred. At any one time, dozens of fires were burning, ignited by embers that found
It’s the time of year for festive celebrations, filled with family and friends, home-cooked meals and sparkling lights. It’s also the time of year that West Metro Fire Rescue sees an increase in fires ignited by cooking, space heaters and candles. Even a small fire can cause thousands of dollars of damage, not to mention
West Metro firefighters respond to more than 35,000 calls each year – that’s an average of one call every 15 minutes. Some of those calls are difficult, even for experienced crews. It could be that the patient is the same age as a son or daughter, or the incident ends in a fatality. First responders
After a record-setting wildfire season in Colorado in 2020, this year is proving to be just as challenging for many western states. California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana have seen more than 100 fires since the beginning of summer. More than 2.2 million acres have burned, and more than 1,200 structures have been lost. According
The Reilly family’s plan was simple. When it was time, mom and dad would head to the hospital for the birth of their second daughter. And when Maggie Reilly woke up to contractions shortly after midnight on March 7, she didn’t panic. Instead, she timed them just to make sure before waking up her husband.
