Increasing Costs, Rising Demand

New Revenue Is Need By 2027

Two firefighters in gear working near a controlled fire in a forested area.

The Bottom Line

Beginning in 2027, personnel and operating costs are expected to outpace available revenue, due to several factors:

Equipment costs are on the rise
Personnel expenses are increasing
State legislation blocked WSFR’s ability to collect the total amount of voter-approved property tax revenue

Line graph showing projected expenses rising faster than projected revenue from 2026 to 2036.

Costs Are Increasing

Over the past 6 years, personnel expenses have grown from 55% to 78% of the District's total budget
Given the cost of living, WSFR has to compete with other area Districts for highly-skilled first responders
WSFR’s response is often limited to 3-person crews, rather than the 4-person crews required by the National Fire Protection Association
A new engine cost $$550,000 in 2019, but today that same fire truck costs $1.2 million

Service Calls Are Going Up

Calls for service have increased 29.4% in the past five years, from 4,034 to 5,218 calls annually
In 2025, medical-related calls for service accounted for 62% of all responses

What’s At Stake?

Slower response times – Without the addition of first responders, Station 1’s reliability is projected to drop to 75% (the goal is 85% to 90%)
Fewer emergency personnel for responses – WSFR will be forced to manage with 3-person crews (reducing on-scene time by an average of 25%)
Declining patient outcomes – 4-person crews have demonstrated faster on-site medical response

About us

Our mission is to provide professional service and compassionate care from our family to yours. Our first responders are committed to ensuring your safety and well-being, whether it's through emergency response, fire prevention, or community outreach.

Covering 100 square miles in Weld and Larimer counties, WSFR provides all-hazards response from four stations. We proudly serve and protect the citizens and visitors of our district with a team of 65 personnel. This includes the operations division, the community risk reduction division, and administrative staff who seamlessly work together for the betterment of our community.