by Evergreen Fire/Rescue Risk Reduction Coordinator Einar Jensen

Since 1948, Evergreen Fire/Rescue (EFR) has been a progressive fire department serving our community innovatively and compassionately before, during and after emergencies. EFR’s members have implemented several changes recently and plan a few more to make sure the agency can grow with our community and surpass its expectations for service.

Community Firefighting in a Modern World

Change is always difficult, especially in an industry as steeped in tradition as the fire service, but EFR prides itself on embracing new ideas and technology when they make sense for our community.

For example, EFR started its community paramedicine program, known as ECARES, in 2017. Back then, two paramedics started conducting fall prevention education in a handful of homes. Today, EFR is licensed by the state as a Community Integrated Health Care Service, has one part-time and three full-time community paramedics, and in 2025 provided 1,659 visits to patients in their own homes.

Two years ago, EFR embraced a big challenge: improve the consistency and timeliness of response by firefighters and fire engines. In October 2024, EFR’s first full-time paid firefighters began answering calls to enhance the neighborhood response model fulfilled in addition to the two (and sometimes three) paid paramedics 24/7 has provided quicker response times to incidents. The result is improved safety for you as well as all our emergency responders because tools and water are automatically on the way.

“For some, the fire service is a job, but for most of us it’s a calling.”

Additionally, more volunteer firefighters are crewing 9spending blocks of time) at Stations 1 and 2 to provide even better consistency for response, and more are committing to “shifting” from home, which means they use an app to note their availability and improve situational awareness for all our personnel.

Next month, EFR will begin staffing Station 1 on County Road 73 with a full-time lieutenant again with the goal of improving response times, consistency and, most importantly, safety.

The Faces Behind the Badges

Who are these people who respond when you call 911?

Overwhelmingly, they are your neighbors. As of February, 58 men and women serve as all-hazard volunteer firefighters, 12 serve as volunteer med-techs who respond specifically to medical emergencies, and 20 serve as Turnouts, our agency’s auxiliary group. We also have eight retired reserves who maintain their training to operate fire apparatus, as well as wildland reserves who assist with wildfires.

While firefighters and paramedics are the best known members of EFr, all of us are responsible for improving community safety for you and each other. EFR has part-time and full-time employees in its Fire Operations, EMS, Wildland, Maintenance, Community Risk Reduction and Administration Divisions

  • Community paramedics help residents age in their own homes and avoid costly trips to emergency departments.
  • Fire inspectors help developers and builders create safe structures and help owners maintain them in accordance with the Fire Code.
  • Mitigation specialists teach homeowners how to reduce wildfire risks and improve family safety.
  • The risk reduction coordinator empowers students and adults to improve safety by changing awareness, behaviors and conditions.
  • Wildland fuels crew members thin forests, chip slash and work with residents to understand forest ecology.
  • Mechanics keep our vehicles operating safely.

Why We Serve

We have personnel who have served your less than a year, for over 30 years and everything in between. For some, the fire service is a job, but for most of us it’s a calling. It fills our souls in ways that other careers and hobbies can’t.

Here’s what some of our personnel have said:

  • “It’s an honor to serve in the community my family calls home.”
  • “As a teacher, I am passionate about serving my community and I’ve found a sense of belonging and appreciation within the fire service family.”
  • “I truly love being a firefighter and helping our community.”
  • “I had spent the last decade in the ER working as a medic and wanted to get back to the field in a progressive and supportive department that valued EMS.”
  • We have an amazing legacy of volunteer service and enhancing it with a combination of career and volunteer personnel to provide even better service to our community. I get to work with some pretty awesome people in a beautiful and special place.”

Building the Future for EFR Response

Those “pretty awesome people” are kind and compassionate as well as skilled. The modern fire service requires significant training and practice to deliver the proper resources to all residents who need assistance. EFR’s personnel earn and maintain state, national and international certifications in firefighting, emergency medicine, emergency vehicle repair, communications, building safety, teaching, management, rescue, incident command, and so many other professional fields.

In addition to recruiting and retaining the right personnel, EFR has created several planning documents in the past four years to guide our ability to surpass the growing expectations and needs of our community. The Master Plan, Strategic Plan, Community Risk Assessment have been developed and are being implemented. Additionally, a Standard of Cover, which sets baseline requirements for emergency response, should be done this spring.

Many of the recommendations in the Master Plan and Strategic Plan have been implemented including hiring paid firefighters, standardizing apparatus across the district, and transforming the EVFD from a 501(c)(4) to a 501(c)(3), now known as the Evergreen Fire Department Foundation (EFDF). The EFDF supports the Evergreen Fire/Rescue family and the community we serve. For information on making a tax-deductible donation and supporting the Foundation and your local responders, email [email protected] or call 303.674.3145.

The Master Plan also recommended modernizing Station 2 which is underway and will improve safety for responders and improve response for our community and building a new fire station in the central part of the district to replace the aging Stations 1 and 4.

#EverythingforYou

For 78 years, EFR has responded when you, our community, needed us. Our planned updates to our services, facilities and personnel will ensure our mission protecting life, property and the environment through prevention, preparedness, education and emergency response and will continue for at least 78 more.

Everything we do is for you.

You can learn more about our commitment to you on our social media platforms and our website, evergreenfirerescue.com.