Dolores fire district seeks volunteers at open house June 27

The Dolores Fire Protection District is trying to add 25 to 30 volunteers to an all-volunteer force that now has fewer than 20 members, and it will host an open house from 12 to 4 p.m. June 27 at 47 Railroad Ave. in Dolores.

Fire Chief Kim Jones has 37 years of firefighting experience and started with Rico’s volunteer fire department. The district is relying heavily on help from neighboring agencies such as the Cortez Fire Protection District, which has full-time paid staff. Dolores Fire Rescue serves a 366-square-mile district with three fire stations, was founded in 1916 and identifies itself as ISO Class 3.

The recruitment push comes as volunteers are being asked to cover a wide range of calls, including fires, car accidents, water rescue and ice rescue. The district needs more people from the Dolores area of Dolores County, where response times can matter most when a rural call comes in and nearby help is stretched.

At the open house, current volunteers will meet with residents and give a closer look at how the department works. The event will include kids’ activities, equipment displays and a live-fire demonstration if weather permits. The department will also serve free hot dogs and hamburgers and sell address signs.

Anyone considering the job has to complete several courses and become CPR- and first-aid-certified. Training for prospective firefighters is offered on the third and fourth Tuesdays of every month, and the district sponsors certification courses for people who want to start serving.

Colorado’s wildfire season typically runs from May through September, and wildfire smoke can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and worsen asthma and heart disease. Three newer Dolores volunteers have already taken a wildland fire class as Southwest Colorado heads deeper into the season.