HISTORY:

The Clifton Fire Protection District was unofficially formed following a structure fire at the Babcock home on February 17, 1941, at a meeting of the Lion's Club. The District's first meeting was held on 02/18/1942, and the first fire call was responded to in April of 1942. Officially, the Fire District was formed in 1943 after legislation in Colorado was passed to create the “Title 32 Special District” which would become a governmental agency.

Under initial Fire Chief Louis Strain, the first operating budget for the District was $850.00, obtained by a mill levy of 1.0. When the District was formed all of the personnel were local farmers and community members who served on a volunteer basis. The District's first “fire truck” was a converted school bus, and was modified by the volunteers themselves. A true fire truck was not obtained until 1946, when a new factory-built Howe on a Chevrolet chassis was purchased. This was the pride and joy of the Department for quite a few years to follow. Between July 1943 and December of 1947 the Department responded to 42 calls.

In 1979 the District held a Bond election for the fire station in use today, and purchased a new ladder truck. That election passed with 90% voter approval. The 2008 elections asked the district taxpayers for an increase in the mill levy to help fund additional cost for more manpower, operational expenses as well as the funding of apparatus replacement.  The taxpayers voted to approve this small increase to offset the growth the district has had in the last 10 years.  In 2009 we sold the 50' ladder truck and bought a Pierce 75' ladder truck with the help of the mill levy increase.  Also at the end of 2009 the number of full time employees was increased to fourteen.

Today the Fire Chief has 1 Assistant Fire Chief, 3 Captains, potentially 3 Lieutenants, a Safety Officer, a Human Resources Director, an EMS Coordinator, a Fire Training Officer and 2 Fire Inspectors. The EMS side has 2 State Certified EMT-Paramedics, 7 State Certified EMT-Intermediates, 15 State Certified EMT -Basics , 4 First Responders. The Fire Division has State Certified Firefighters I & II, Haz-mat Operations, as well as personnel trained in Ice Rescue and Confined space. In addition Clifton Fire Department has state certified EMS and Fire instructors on staff.

The Fire Department is located at 3254 F Road in Clifton. The department office and head quarters are open Monday thru Friday from 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Our website is www.cliftonfire.com. The designated Public Information Officer is the Assistant Fire Chief Greg Martin. He can be reached at his place of employment @ 970-434-9500 or his cell phone 970-250-5649. As always, any information can also be obtained at the Fire Department 970-434-5448 and ask for the Fire Chief and/or the Captain on duty.

Updated 11/2009