Denver Fire Department

07/25/2024

07/22/2024

07/22/2024

✏BACK-TO-SCHOOL WITH DENVER DAYS: Join us this Saturday, July 27th at Denver Fire Department Station 39 to kick off 2024!

Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast, have fun with your little ones at our Kids Zone, pick up a great backpack and school supplies, dance to the music of a local DJ, and much more at NO COST TO YOU!

Thank you to our city agency partners at Mayor Mike Johnston's Office and the Denver Fire Department, plus a huge shoutout to our main sponsors at Comcast and Sysco, and to our partners at JanSport, Denver Water, Coca-Cola, Kroger Mountain View Foods, and Reddy Ice for all your time and donations to make this wonderful event happen.

We cannot wait to see all of you out there! 🎉

07/21/2024

Last nights rains made a mess along Denver roadways. Too many people believed they could make it through the flooded streets. Always remember to “Turn around…. Don’t drown. “

07/20/2024

Remembering Our Fallen
By Asst. Chief Gregory Taft, Retired

July 20, 1899: Firefighter Harry Robinson, age 42, of Hose Company 2, succumbed to injuries sustained while operating at the Western Chemical Company fire on June 18, 1899, at South Seventh and Bayaud. The fire started just before 6:00 p.m., billowing thick brown smoke from a store room. The store room contained about 50 carboys of muriatic acid, two of which had already exploded. Assistant Chief John Dulmage stated, "We went into the room with a hose from the chemical tank of Truck 3 and soon had the fire out." Robinson, Chief Dulmage, and Firefighters McClellan, Goodman, and Ritchie of Hose Company 7 were taken ill by the muriatic acid fumes. Doctors treated Robinson with injections of nitro-glycerin and whisky as well as oxygen. Robinson died as a result of exposure to the fumes and pneumonia. Robinson was the driver for Chief Dulmage and was appointed to the department in 1889. Firefighter Robinson became the 10th Denver Firefighter to die in the line of duty.

Note: The same building sustained another fire on July 1, 1899; this fire resulted in no injuries.

Photos courtesy of Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Department

07/20/2024

Friday evening firefighters responded to an auto accident with parties trapped at Colfax and I25. When crews arrived they found 1 party pinned inside the red jeep. Crews worked quickly to extricate the patient from the vehicle. A total of 3 people were transported by to local hospitals.

07/19/2024

Presiding Judge Kerri Lombardi recently swore in new members of the Denver Fire Department. Firefighters take an oath to support the Constitution and Laws of the United States and of the State of Colorado and the Charter and Ordinances of the City and County of Denver.

07/19/2024

So many great pictures from this weeks summer camp.

07/19/2024

That’s a wrap on this year’s Denver Fire Department Youth Career Exploration Camp. We had some hot days and a ton of water sprayed made for a great time for everyone. Thank you to our sponsors and volunteers who made this camp possible at no cost to the kids!

07/17/2024

Remembering Our Fallen
By Asst. Chief Gregory Taft, Retired

On July 17, 1938, just before 7:00 p.m., fire erupted at Elitch Gardens. The fire was burning near and advancing on the park dance pavilion. Upon arrival, Chief of Department John Healy immediately transmitted a 2nd Alarm. Truck 4 was responding to the 2nd Alarm, while Engine 3 was relocating to Station 5, and tragedy struck. Engine 3 collided with Truck 4 in the intersection of 20th & Larimer. Captain John Horan of Truck 4, dazed, tumbled from the top of a car where he was thrown and staggered into a corner drugstore. He called Headquarters and said, “Send everything you got – all the ambulances you can muster.”

This tragic accident claimed the lives of Engine Company 3 members Captain George W. Brooks, age 48, and Firefighter James E. Simpson, age 45. Eight other firefighters and one civilian were injured. The firefighters injured were Firefighter Carl De Prad, Firefighter Sydney Frelow, and Firefighter James Harrison of Engine Company 3 and Captain John Horan, Firefighter J. H. Harner, Firefighter Joe Tulet, Firefighter Harry Kelly, and Firefighter Richard Parks of Truck 4.

Their injuries ranged from minor to critical. The civilian whose vehicle was caught up in the collision sustained critical injuries.

Manager of Safety William F Guthner directed an investigation. At the hearing, “New Orders will be issued to all drivers relative to Guthner’s oft-given rules concerning Safe Driving.”

Photos via Denver Public Library, Denver Post Photo and The Rocky Mountain News.

07/15/2024

Remembering Our Fallen
By Asst. Chief Gregory Taft, Retired

July 15, 2015: On June 28, 2015 at 9:29 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a reported warehouse on fire at 3860 Blake Street. The first arriving companies found a dumpster on fire adjacent to the building. The fire was quickly extinguished, and crews began to check for fire extension. Engineer John Whelan and the crew of Truck 8 went to the roof of the warehouse to check for any fire extension. While operating on the roof, Engineer Whelan stepped on an unseen fiberglass skylight, plunging him through the roof and 25 feet to the floor below. Firefighters immediately converged on Whelan inside the warehouse, where they began treating his injuries. He was transported to the hospital in serious condition. On July 15, Engineer John P. Whelan III, age 46, succumbed to his injuries and left behind his wife and young son. Engineer Whelan became the 55th Denver Firefighter to die in the line of duty.

07/12/2024

Friday, Denver Fire Academy class 24-01 celebrated their graduation from the academy. After months of rigorous training and hard work, these brave men and women are ready to serve the Denver community. Congratulations and here’s to a bright future ahead!

07/12/2024

On 2/1/2022, Engine 29 was dispatched to a cardiac arrest. When they arrived they found a gentleman unresponsive, and lying on the floor. Engine 29 proceeded to perform CPR on that gentleman. Today Floyd D. Stopped by Station 29 to thank them for their life saving efforts. It is always a blessing for our crews when we get to see the people we have helped when they are not in the midst of a life threatening emergency.

07/11/2024

https://youtu.be/BNLghfzyP28?si=KYxkzspoO7gbTtNo

Project Ignite is a two-day event that gives women a chance to learn what it takes to become a Denver Firefighter. This is the story of two women from the 20...

07/11/2024

We heard it was national kitten day and it reminded us of this little guy our Tr-1 crew was able to rescue. Happy National Kitten Day! July 10, 2024

07/05/2024

Denver Structure Fire On July 4th, 2024 at 23:25 Denver Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire in the 14900 block of E. 52nd Ave. in Montbello. Crews arrived to find a fully involved structure. Due to the intensity of this fire the adjacent structure on the Bravo exposure also ign...

07/05/2024

It was a very busy 4th of July for our firefighters. It has been very hot and that means the grass is very dry. Please leave the fireworks to the professionals. Note, not all these calls are related to fireworks but this call volume is significantly higher than a normal day.

07/03/2024

'Fight every fight like it's your last.'

Manny Lopez is a Firefighter with the Denver Fire Department with a lifelong passion for the sport of boxing. Inspired by his father's devotion, Manny began fighting as a kid with an eye on the Olympics. Now, he's stepping into the ring one last time as he commits to his new path as a Denver Firefighter. Join Manny as he prepares to hang up his gloves after his final fight.

07/03/2024

06/28/2024

Remembering Our Fallen
By Asst. Chief Gregory Taft, Retired

June 28, 1934: On June 20, an alarm of a fire was transmitted for 421 Williams Street. While fighting the fire, Firefighter Colin Taylor of Engine Company 16 collapsed from smoke inhalation and was revived at the scene by fellow firefighters. He was taken to his home where his condition worsened. He was later taken to St. Luke’s Hospital. His condition became critical after developing pneumonia. Firefighter Taylor died on June 28. He was the second Engine Company 16 firefighter who died from the effects of smoke inhalation in unrelated fires during an eight-day period. Firefighter Taylor was appointed to the Denver Fire Department in March 1923. Firefighter Colin C. Taylor, age 39, became the 25th Denver Firefighter to die in the line of duty. He left behind a wife and 4-year-old son.

Photo courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History & Genealogy Department

06/28/2024

Remembering Our Fallen
By Asst. Chief Gregory Taft, Retired

June 28, 1967: On Saturday, June 10, the fire alarm box at 13th and Stout Streets was activated. While responding, Engine Company 6 was struck broadside in the intersection of Speer Boulevard and Lawrence Street. Firefighter Victor Sullivan Jr., riding the rear step of Engine 6, was hurled from the apparatus and sustained serious injuries. He was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in critical condition, where he never regained consciousness. His death was attributed to severe head and internal trauma. The alarm they were responding to was maliciously activated and the third false alarm in the area within 30 minutes. The person responsible for the false alarm(s) was never identified. Firefighter Victor Sullivan Jr., age 35, became the 47th Denver Firefighter to die in the line of duty. He left behind a wife and four young children.

Photo courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History & Genealogy Department

06/27/2024

Sunday night, just before midnight, Denver Fire was dispatched to a structure fire near 13th and Osage. Upon arrival crews were met with heavy smoke from this structure. Due to the heavy fortifications crews had to cut their way through multiple door and window coverings just to make entry. As Tower 1’s crew was working to make entry they heard someone screaming from around the corner. Upon further investigation, tower 1 located 1 person trapped behind a fortified basement window. The members of Tower 1 cut the reinforcements and made entry to the basement assisting the trapped party to safety.

Due to the high heat and the complexities of this building the incident commander elevated the response to a second alarm. All companies on scene worked together to locate and extinguish this fire. 1 firefighter was transported for minor burn injuries.

06/26/2024

More Pictures from our Professional Staff BBQ.

06/26/2024

Wednesday afternoon we were able to celebrate Denver Fire Departments professional staff. It was a great opportunity to share a meal and have our professional staff and their families come out to the fire academy and get to hands on with some of the fire equipment.

06/26/2024

Tuesday Denver Fire responded to a trench rescue in Englewood. Upon arrival crews found a construction worker who had been moving pipe had gotten buried up to the waist. First arriving crews immediately jumped into rescue mode and were able to rapidly dig the worker out, freeing him from the entrapment without further disturbing the trench.

06/23/2024

This week 6 new EMT’s were sworn in by the honorable Judge Rodarte. These EMT’s will staff our med units that run our lower acuity calls that do not require the response of a full fire engine or truck. Welcome to the DFD!

06/21/2024

Remembering Our Fallen
By Asst. Chief Gregory Taft, Retired

June 21, 1934: On June 14, Lieutenant Dendinger of Engine Company 16 had just returned to the station from a structure fire when he became ill. Lt. Dendinger was taken to his home, where his condition continued to worsen. A physician was called and treated the lieutenant with oxygen for smoke inhalation. Lieutenant Dendinger continued to deteriorate and developed pneumonia. Lieutenant Dendinger died in the early morning hours of June 21. Born in Oakland City, Indiana, he came to Denver as a young man. He was appointed to the department on May 1, 1913 and promoted to Lieutenant on August 1, 1925. Lieutenant Curtis A. Dendinger became the 24th Denver Firefighter to die in the line of duty. He left behind a wife and five children ranging in age from 8 to 24.

Photo courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History & Genealogy Department