COAL CREEK CANYON — On Sunday, June 7, 2026, Coal Creek Canyon Fire Protection District (CCCFPD) volunteers gathered early in the morning to participate in a day of scenarios used to prepare recruits for real emergencies.

Scenarios included an ATV rollover, dirtbike accident, stroke, overdose, schizophrenia, and asthma attack.

Three groups of recruits from both CCCFPD and Jamestown Fire Department rotated through the stations throughout the day, gaining hands-on experience and teamwork. By exposing recruits to different types of emergencies, the training helps to build confidence and prepare them for unforeseen situations. 

The Coal Creek Fire Department trains volunteers for real emergencies.

Photo courtesy of Bobbie Steffe

This training is one of many that volunteers go through before they are qualified to respond. Initial training requirements alone add up to around 300 hours. After completing these trainings and becoming volunteers, additional training is necessary throughout their time in the CCCFPD.

All this time and effort ensure that volunteers are prepared to handle a wide variety of emergencies and can work effectively, especially under pressure. 

Colorado’s fire departments rely heavily on volunteers, with over 70% of them being all or mostly volunteer departments. Without volunteers, many rural and urban communities would struggle to maintain emergency services and provide them 24/7. 

CCCFPD is run by about 60 volunteers, which far outnumbers the nine career firefighters. Those individuals discovered their passion through their time with Coal Creek and decided to work full-time as paramedics, ski patrollers, firefighters, EMTs, and a flight nurse with Flight for Life. That’s 60 people who have sacrificed family time and free time to go through training to protect the canyon and the community within it. 

The Coal Creek Canyon fire crew responded to a total of 315 incidents last year, and active members of the department put iin a total of 7,882 hours of service to our community.

Jamestown and Coal Creek Fire Departments in another training scenario.

Photo courtesy of Bobbie Steffe

Behind every happy family, grassy field, and rustic home is a group of volunteers dedicated to serving and protecting them. 

With it being the 80th anniversary of CCCFPD, Chief Garret Ball offered to share a few words of recognition. When asked about the group of volunteers that serve our canyon, he responded, “Volunteer firefighters are absolutely critical to the success of our department, and ultimately to the fire service nationwide. I try to impart this to our new recruits from day one so that they know just how much this community depends on them. You would be hard pressed to find a more selfless group of people than our volunteer firefighters.”