Eagle River Fire Protection District

06/01/2026

🔥 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 🔥

As temperatures rise and vegetation continues to cure, grasses throughout Eagle County are drying out and can ignite easily from even a small spark.

A single mistake can quickly turn into a wildfire.

✅ Keep grass mowed to less than 3 inches around homes and structures.
✅ Maintain vegetation along roads, driveways, and access routes.
✅ Never park vehicles on tall grass. Hot exhaust systems can ignite dry vegetation.
✅ Use extreme caution when welding, grinding, cutting metal, or performing other hot work in or near dry grass.
✅ Always have water, a shovel, and a fire extinguisher readily available when conducting any work that could create sparks.

Dry grass + heat + wind = increased wildfire risk.

Wildfire prevention starts with all of us. A few simple actions today can help protect homes, neighborhoods, and our entire community tomorrow.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Eagle County safe.

06/01/2026

Future firefighters in action! 🚒🔥

This week, Eagle Valley Middle School students took part in our “Firefighter Games” as part of the Anchors Away program, a hands-on career exploration experience that introduces students to a variety of professions in our community.

Hosted by and , students got a firsthand look at what it takes to respond to an emergency. They raced to don firefighter gear, carried equipment, and even advanced a hose line to knock down a target—just like firefighters do on the fireground.

We love opportunities like this to connect with local students, share what we do, and inspire the next generation of public servants.

A big thank you to Eagle Valley Middle School, the Postsecondary Learning and Career Readiness Department, and all the students who brought their enthusiasm and competitive spirit to the Firefighter Games!

06/01/2026

📍 Wednesday, June 3, 2026 📍
Colorado Mountain College – Edwards, CO (Room 261)
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Curious about becoming a firefighter?

Join for an upcoming Hiring Orientation and learn what it takes to start a career in the fire service. This is a great opportunity to learn more about Eagle River Fire, the role of a firefighter, and what to expect during our Entry Level hiring process.

Whether you’re just exploring or ready to apply, we encourage you to come out, ask questions, and see if this path is right for you. 💪

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is more than a long weekend—it’s a time to pause and remember those who gave everything for our freedom.
We honor their sacrifice and carry their legacy forward.

05/22/2026

⚠️ WILDFIRE EVACUATION DRILL TODAY – WILDRIDGE ⚠️

The Town of Avon and partner agencies will be conducting a wildfire evacuation drill in Wildridge today between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.

Residents throughout the valley may receive emergency notifications through multiple systems, including phone alerts, text messages, and social media updates.

🚨 Please note: THIS IS ONLY A DRILL.
There are NO active evacuations or wildfire emergencies at this time.

These exercises help improve community preparedness, emergency communication systems, and coordinated response during wildfire incidents.

Thank you for your support as we work together to keep our communities prepared and resilient.

Vail Fire and Emergency ServicesEagle Valley Wildland Town of Avon, Colorado Government Eagle County PIO

05/20/2026

05/20/2026

🚒🔥 Curious about becoming a firefighter?

Join for an upcoming Hiring Orientation and learn what it takes to start a career in the fire service. This is a great opportunity to learn more about Eagle River Fire, the role of a firefighter, and what to expect during our Entry Level hiring process.

📍 Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Colorado Mountain College – Edwards, CO (Room 261)
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

📍 Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Colorado Mountain College – Leadville, CO (Room CM 401)
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Whether you’re just exploring or ready to apply, we encourage you to come out, ask questions, and see if this path is right for you. 💪

05/19/2026

Eagle River Fire is now accepting applications for Entry Level Firefighters.

Selected applicants will be invited to join our 2027 academy, where they will complete EMT-Basic, Firefighter I, Hazardous Materials Operations, and several other essential disciplines to prepare them for a career in the fire service.

If you’re ready to serve your community and take on a rewarding challenge, we encourage you to apply today.

Apply here: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/eagleriverfire

02/14/2026

🔥 Tim Swaner Receives 2026 National Wildfire Mitigation Award 🔥

We are proud to share that Tim Swaner has been selected to receive the 2026 Wildfire Mitigation Award (WMA) — the highest national honor for outstanding work and significant program impact in wildfire preparedness and mitigation.

Established in 2014 by the National Association of State Foresters, National Fire Protection Association, USDA Forest Service, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, this award recognizes exceptional leadership and measurable results across the United States.

Tim earned this national recognition for developing the Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program and the countywide chipping program within the Eagle Valley Wildland Program — initiatives that have significantly reduced wildfire risk in our community and become a model nationwide.

The WMA selection committee specifically noted the removal of over one million pounds of hazardous vegetation — a remarkable accomplishment for a community of our size and a direct investment in public safety.

Although this award has been presented to Tim, achievements of this scale are never accomplished alone. The success of these programs would not have been possible without the strong partnerships and collaboration of Eagle River Fire Protection District and Eagle Valley Wildland, with the continued support of our municipal and metro partners, HOAs, community leaders, firefighters, staff, and residents who have embraced wildfire mitigation as a shared responsibility.

Tim will be formally recognized at the 2026 Wildland-Urban Interface Conference on March 25, 2026, in Reno, Nevada.

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who continues to support wildfire mitigation efforts in our county.

👏 Congratulations, Tim, on this well-deserved national recognition.
Job well done!

Eagle County Sheriff's Office Beaver Creek Mountain Town of Eagle, CO Eagle County Open Space and Natural Resources Eagle County Emergency Management Colorado State Patrol Town of Avon, Colorado Government Gypsum Fire Protection District Town of Gypsum - Government