Resident Program

Join our volunteer firefighters and staff, as well as up to ten fellow residents, and respond as part of our firefighting family to one of over six hundred incidents per year including: motor vehicle accidents, wildland and structural fires, hazmat incidents, low angle rope rescues, plus a variety of other emergency calls within our 1000 square mile response area.

Residents are provided rent-free dormitory style housing, basic utilities, laundry facilities and internet in either our renovated house on CCFPD’s training facility in Nathrop, CO or in our newly renovated station in Poncha Springs, CO.  In exchange, each Resident will be assigned a duty shift (three 24-hour shifts every nine days). Throughout their two-year commitment, each resident will obtain Colorado State Certifications including Firefighter I, Hazmat Operations, and Driver Operator. Residents are also encouraged to pursue Firefighter II, Fire Instructor I and EMT. Each Resident will also become certified in wildland firefighting (S130/190) and have the opportunity to participate in national wildfire deployments throughout the wildland season.

Resident firefighters are encouraged to obtain outside employment in the county to supplement their income. 

Interested applicants will call or text:  Steven Jones, Retention and Recruitment Coordinator for Chaffee County Fire Protection District, at (719)581-0045 or email sjones@chaffeecountyfire.org

Please note: you must be at least 18 years old in order to participate in this program. We do not currently have facilities to accommodate Residents with spouses and/or children.