cortez fire protection district

What cortez fire protection district does

Cortez Fire Protection District (CFPD) is a special local government district under Colorado's Special District Act that provides fire suppression, emergency medical services (EMS), wildland fire response, hazardous materials handling, and rescue operations to residents, property owners, businesses, and visitors within its boundaries in Montezuma County, Colorado. The district operates from Station #1 at 31 N. Washington Street, Cortez, and runs a combination career/volunteer staffing model organized into three shifts (A, B, C), supplemented by a volunteer program with pension benefits (currently 39 pension members), a Junior Firefighter Program for youth aged 15-18, and a regional Fire Academy that trains cadets from six neighboring districts (Rico, Dolores, Lewis-Arriola, Pleasant View, Mancos, West Fork). CFPD also operates a specialized Wildland Division for regional fuels mitigation and federal wildfire deployment, and a Community Risk Reduction Program covering smoke alarm distribution, air quality monitoring, and emergency preparedness education.

The district's technology footprint is operationally focused: grant-funded Fuels Moisture Data equipment monitors vegetation moisture for burn ban decisions, and a Community Connect platform enables residents to share household information with responders. There is no software product, no SaaS offering, and no proprietary intellectual property beyond the institutional knowledge of its personnel. Revenue is generated entirely through public-sector mechanisms — property taxes (primary recurring stream), a voter-approved 0.54% sales tax effective July 1, 2025, development impact fees ($847 per residential dwelling, $0.718 per square foot commercial) adopted via Resolution No. 2, Series 2025, state and federal grants (SAFER, Colorado State Grants, federal wildland reimbursement), corporate sponsorships from local businesses and utilities, community donations, merchandise sales (t-shirts at $20, reflective address signs at $30), and hazardous materials response invoicing under C.R.S. 29-22-101 et seq. Pricing is set by the elected five-member Board of Directors and publicly disclosed.

CFPD was first organized as a volunteer bucket brigade in 1886, formalized as a Fire Department in 1911, and constituted as a Fire Protection District in 1986, transitioning from volunteer-only to a compensated combination model. Major milestones include the hiring of the first full-time Fire Chief in 2008, first part-time paid firefighters in 2009, and first six career firefighters in 2012 via SAFER grant funding. Recent strategic actions — the 2024 sales tax approval, 2025 impact fee implementation, expanded Community Risk Reduction programming, and active 2026 firefighter hiring — indicate a district in capacity-building mode rather than territorial expansion.

Name

cortez fire protection district

Legal name

Cortez Fire Protection District

Website

https://cortezfire.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cortez Fire Protection District is a Colorado special district government providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, wildland fire response, and community risk reduction programs to residents, businesses, and visitors within its Montezuma County service territory, funded by property taxes, a new sales tax, impact fees, grants, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection and Emergency Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (922160), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildfire Fuel Reduction & Prescribed Burning (AFAMAAAF), Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE), Forest Fire Management & Fuels Reduction Services (IMAMAAAH)

Keywords

• Fire protection services
• Emergency medical response
• Wildland fire response
• Hazardous materials response
• Community risk reduction

Headquarters

HQ city

Cortez

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Primary funding source for fire protection and emergency services within the district, collected at the local level.
2. Sales Tax: Voter-approved 0.54% sales tax effective July 1, 2025, designed to assist with operations, salaries, and staffing. Exemptions include food for home consumption, prescription drugs, diapers, period products, farm equipment, and school activities purchases.
3. Impact Fees: Fees collected from new development at final plat or building permit. Residential: $847 per dwelling. Non-residential/Commercial: $0.718 per square foot. Cannot be used for personnel costs.
4. State/Federal Grants: Funding from state and federal sources including SAFER grants for career firefighters and Colorado State Grants for pension funding.
5. Corporate Sponsorships and Donations: Corporate donations from WM, Onward! Foundation, LOR Foundation, NAPA Auto Parts, Kiwanis, CREA, First National Bank, Four Corners Community Bank, Kinder Morgan, Empire Electric, Basin Electric, and others for equipment, events, and operational support.
6. Donations and Merchandise: Community donations and merchandise sales including t-shirts ($20) and address signs ($30) to support firework events and district operations.
7. Hazardous Materials Response Reimbursement: Invoicing for hazardous materials response pursuant to C.R.S. 29-22-101 et seq.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Cortez Fire Protection District provides fire suppression, emergency medical services (EMS), wildland fire response, hazardous materials response, and rescue operations to residents and property owners within its boundaries in Montezuma County, Colorado. The district also delivers community risk reduction through education, smoke alarm distribution, burn permits, fuels mitigation, and youth/volunteer firefighter programs (Junior Firefighter Program, Fire Academy, Volunteer Firefighter Program). Stationed at Station #1 in Cortez, the district operates a combination career and volunteer model with three shifts providing 24/7 coverage.

Product overview

The Cortez Fire Protection District provides fire protection, emergency medical services, and disaster response as its core mission. The district operates a Wildland Division for regional wildfire response and fuels mitigation. Supporting programs include a Junior Firefighter Program for youth ages 15-18, an annual Fire Academy/Cadet Program offering certifications (HazMat, Firefighter I, Wildland), a Volunteer Firefighter Program with pension benefits, a Ride Along Observer Program, and Community Risk Reduction initiatives including smoke alarm distribution and air quality monitoring. The district also offers Community Connect, a free platform for residents to share household emergency information. Address signs are available for purchase. The district serves Montezuma County, Colorado, operating from Station #1 at 31 N. Washington Street.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Protection and Emergency Services Core fire protection, emergency medical services (EMS), hazardous materials response, search and rescue, and disaster response provided 24/7 by career and volunteer firefighters in three shifts to the Cortez Fire Protection District community in Montezuma County, Colorado.
• Wildland Division Wildland fire response, regional fuels mitigation and monitoring services (including real-time fuels moisture data collection), and slash pile burning operations for local, regional, and federal wildfire emergencies, with U.S. Forest Service deployment and federal reimbursement for seasonal operations.
• Community Risk Reduction Program Community education and prevention program addressing local risks through 10-year battery smoke alarm distribution (Red Cross partnership), lithium battery safety, wood stove safety, smoke detector placement education, medication disposal (Deterra), air quality monitoring, and wildfire preparedness programs.
• Junior Firefighter Program Youth program for ages 15-18 providing fire service training, EMS certification, and community service opportunities. Participants must maintain a 3.0 GPA and obtain parental approval; up to 10 members accepted.
• Fire Academy / Cadet Program Annual firefighter training academy serving cadets from multiple regional fire districts (Rico, Dolores, Lewis-Arriola, Pleasant View, Mancos, West Fork, and Cortez Fire). Sections rotate monthly between different fire stations. Includes HazMat Operations, Firefighter I, and Wildland certifications.
• Volunteer Firefighter Program Volunteer program providing emergency response, training, and community service. Volunteers must meet 36 hours annually of volunteering shifts, training, and apparatus duties. Eligible for pension at age 50 with 10+ years of service.
• Reflective Address Signs Green reflective address signs sold for $30 to help first responders locate properties quickly during emergencies. Signs take 2-3 days to make and are available for pickup at Station #1.
• Firework Supporter T-Shirts Community fundraiser t-shirts sold at $20 per shirt to support firework events and district operations. Available online or in person at Station #1.
• Impact Fees for New Development Impact fees collected from new development at final plat or building permit. Residential: $847 per dwelling. Non-residential/Commercial: $0.718 per square foot. Applies to commercial, storage, shop, barn, and other non-residential buildings. Accessory buildings under 1,000 sq ft are exempt. Cannot be used for personnel costs.
• Burn Permits and Burning Permits Services Burn permits and burning permit services provided in coordination with Montezuma County burn bans and fire restrictions.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• WM (Waste Management)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Equipment donations. In 2025, WM donated funds for purchase of an electric vehicle blanket and battery operated chainsaw to enhance emergency response capabilities.
• Onward! FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Grant funding provided to purchase rescue equipment including a litter, harness, and off-road wheel for remote rescues that preserve natural flora and enable elevated rescues.
• NAPA Auto Parts (Cortez & Dolores)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Funding provided for the 'Halloween at the Firehouse' community event in 2024.
• Cortez Retail Enhancement Association (CREA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsorship support for Fourth of July fireworks event that benefits the community.
• First National Bank of CortezminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Donated a 12-foot Christmas tree for the family sponsorship event creating a winter wonderland scene for Santa to deliver gifts to community children.
• Four Corners Community BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Donation funded purchase of an oven and equipment for fuels moisture testing to determine moisture content in fire-prone vegetation, enabling more precise burn ban decisions.
• Kinder MorganminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Corporate donations assist in daily operations of the district, used to purchase equipment specific to the company's industry needs.
• Empire Electric AssociationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Annual donation to assist with purchase of equipment and to support fireworks for community events.
• Basin Electric Power CooperativeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Matched the donation by Empire Electric, allowing the district to purchase needed equipment and assist with operating costs.
• Teddy Bear Patrol Drive Partners (Colorado DMV, KOSI 101.1, Smashburger)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Statewide DMV collection of stuffed animals for local first responders. Local Cortez DMV presented donations collected during Teddy Bear Patrol Drive to comfort children in emergencies.
• American Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to provide 10-year battery life smoke alarms to the community. CFPD works with Red Cross to make smoke detectors readily available to save lives. Contact information provided through district.
• Wildfire Adapted PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Works with neighbors and agency partners to create wildfire adapted communities. Assists residents in creating defensible space, planning wildfire evacuations, and preparing for wildfire through education and grant opportunities.
• Special Districts Association of Colorado (SDA)coreOthers · 1 January 2024Membership organization supporting district governance. Provides legislative updates, research, communication resources, and training. SDA supports transparency notices and annual workshops for board members.
• Four Corners Community BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Grant funding made possible the Fuels Moisture Data program. Bank logo appears on fuels moisture data reports as acknowledgment of grant support for this monitoring capability.
• Regional Fire Departments (Rico, Dolores, Lewis-Arriola, Pleasant View, Mancos, West Fork)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Multi-district Fire Academy providing months of intense firefighter training and certification. Sections rotate monthly between different fire stations. Includes HazMat Operations, FireFighter I, and Wildland certifications.
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Federal partnership for seasonal wildland fire work. Career firefighters and seasonal personnel deployed through USFS, with federal government providing reimbursement for these efforts.
• Montezuma CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024County partnership for emergency services coordination. New Emergency Alert System launched by county. County burn bans and fire restrictions coordinated with district. Montezuma County Emergency Manager referenced for emergency management coordination.
• LOR FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Multi-year funding (2023, 2024, 2025) for 'Halloween at the Firehouse' annual community event, which has become a Halloween destination for many families in the community.
• Kiwanis of Mesa VerdeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Partnered with LOR Foundation to make the 2023, 2024, and 2025 'Halloween Firehouse' events successful, with over 100 visitors participating in fun and games during Halloween.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mountain View Fire Protection District: Colorado fire protection district delivering fire, EMS, and prevention services. Comparable as a Colorado special district with similar governance structure, funding mechanisms, and service scope.
• Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Authority: Colorado fire authority providing fire suppression, EMS, and wildland response. Comparable as a regional Colorado fire authority operating across multiple jurisdictions with a similar service mix.
• Telluride Fire Protection District: Colorado mountain-based fire protection district offering structural and wildland fire response. Comparable as a small special district with seasonal tourism-driven risk profile and mixed career/volunteer staffing.
• Durango Fire Protection District: Colorado special district providing fire suppression, EMS, and wildland response in La Plata County. Closest geographic and structural analog with a similar combination career/volunteer model in Southwest Colorado.
• Berthoud Fire Protection District: Colorado fire protection district providing fire suppression, EMS, and wildland response. Comparable as a special district operating with a combination career/volunteer model in a similar rural-adjacent setting.

Others

• American Red Cross (Western Colorado): Strategic partner providing 10-year smoke alarms to Cortez FPD residents. Comparable as an enabling organization that extends the district's prevention capability without direct competition.
• National Fire Protection Association: National standards-setting body that informs Cortez FPD's training, codes, and operational practices. Comparable as a thematically adjacent ecosystem participant shaping fire service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control: State-level fire prevention, suppression, and training authority. Comparable as the broader state-level fire services body that coordinates with Cortez FPD on training, certifications, and mutual aid.
• U.S. Forest Service: Federal agency managing wildland fire response and reimbursing Cortez FPD for seasonal deployments. Comparable as a wildland fire operator and the federal counterpart in joint wildfire response.

Emerging players

• Wildfire Adapted Partnership: Regional nonprofit partner of Cortez FPD focused on wildfire preparedness education, defensible space, and evacuation planning. Comparable as an ecosystem partner addressing community risk reduction.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about cortez fire protection district