Rocky Ford Fire Dept. Warns Proposed Staffing Cuts Will Endanger Public Safety in Letter to Community

Description: The Rocky Ford Fire Department Released the Following Letter to the Community Regarding Staffing Cuts Due to City Budget Shortfalls on December 10, 2025...

Rocky Ford Fire Department Details Life-Threatening Risks of Proposed Fire & EMS Staff Reductions

In light of last nights City Council meeting, we would like to share some facts; In order to get the citys budget balanced and into the black, tough decisions need made. Some of those decisons affect the Fire Department in a very neagative way. There is a propsed reduction of staff by 4 postions. 3 from the Fire Budget and 1 from the Ambulance Budget. Keep in mind we currently sit with (2) shifts with 4 Personell and (1) shift with 3. Losing 4 postions, would be an entire shift. Please read below the impact this will have on our community and inevitably the County. We would love public input and engament, directly on this post. We will try our best to get any questions answered. Thank you for your time, and Hopefully Support:

Brandon Dickinson

Fire Captain, Rocky Ford Fire Department

I am writing to express serious concern regarding the proposed reduction of Full-Time Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/Paramedic positions within our rural community particularly in light of the high medical and fire call volume that our department responds to on a daily basis. These cuts pose significant risks not only to the safety of our residents but also to the wellbeing and operational integrity of our department.

Reducing the number of full-time emergency responders will inevitably lead to slower response times. In rural settings, where distance and geography already extend travel times, any additional delay can be the difference between life and death. Medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest, respiratory distress, and severe trauma require immediate intervention, while fires can grow exponentially within minutes. Fewer staffed units during high-demand periods will greatly diminish our ability to respond effectively to these critical incidents.

Equally concerning is the impact these cuts will have on the remaining personnel. High call volume does not decrease when staffing does. Instead, the burden shifts to fewer responders, resulting in increased fatigue, higher stress levels, and a much greater risk of injury or provider error. These conditions directly compromise both patient care and firefighter safety. Just to highlight that there are fewer, and fewer volunteer responses every day. Thus, continually justifying Career Members.

Our ability to manage simultaneous or overlapping incidents which is already a challenge in our community would also be significantly impaired. With fewer personnel available to respond, the department will be forced to rely more heavily on mutual aid, thereby straining neighboring jurisdictions and increasing county-wide vulnerability. Also, you can count out IFT’s which is an already clearly revenue boosting program. Availability to assist Fowler, Manzanola, Crowley County and even La Junta will be greatly impacted.

The loss of Firefighter/Paramedic positions further reduces our Advanced Life Support (ALS) capacity, a critical component of emergency medical response in a community like ours. Decreasing the number of ALS-trained personnel means fewer responders capable of performing advanced interventions during life-threatening emergencies, ultimately resulting in poorer patient outcomes.

Additionally, the proposed elimination of Wildland Deployment opportunities will have far-reaching consequences. For many members, wildland assignments serve as essential professional development and provide supplemental income. Removing this opportunity creates a domino effect: firefighters lose both experience and financial incentive, leading many to seek employment elsewhere. This accelerates turnover, drains institutional knowledge, and makes recruitment and retention increasingly difficult.

Finally, while these staffing cuts may be intended to reduce costs, the long-term financial impact is likely to be significantly higher. Increased overtime, greater property loss due to slower fire response, diminished ALS capability, and the constant recruitment and training of replacement personnel ultimately place a larger burden on the community.

In summary, reducing full-time Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/Paramedic positions alongside eliminating Wildland Deployment is a decision that jeopardizes public safety, increases risk to our responders, strains neighboring agencies, and undermines the stability and effectiveness of our department. I urge you to reconsider these actions and explore alternative solutions that prioritize the safety and long-term resilience of our community.

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