Vail (CO) Fire and Emergency Services (VFES) is a fairly new fire department. It was established as an all-volunteer organization in 1964.
Since then, it has transitioned into a full-time paid fire department operating out of three fire stations, which are located in East Vail, Vail Village, and West Vail, Colorado. VFES serves a population of 5,300 year-round residents and roughly 20,000 guests daily.
When we hear “Vail, Colorado,” many immediately think of the numerous ski resorts that the area is noted for as well as hotels, bars, restaurants, and multilevel residences. While the area is known for these resort areas, the level of responsibility for the fire department and its response area has grown immensely.
VFES responds to approximately 2,000 incidents each year. In addition to service to the Town of Vail, VFES responds to incidents on I-70, a heavily traveled interstate from mile marker 171 to 190, as well as incidents occurring on the surrounding White River National Forest. VFES also responds to several neighborhoods that are outside the incorporated limits of the Town of Vail as well as the Vail Mountain Resort.
VFES provides and receives automatic and mutual aid with all fire districts in Eagle County, Colorado. It is a founding member of the Mountain Area Mutual Aid program, which includes Eagle, Summit, Garfield, Pitkin, Routt, Lake, and Grand counties.
According to Vail Fire Marshal Ryan Ocepek, “VFES has a wide level of responses in its 17 square miles of just about every type of terrain. The call volume has increased from wildland urban interface (WUI), structure fires, high-angle rescues, emergency medical service (EMS), and various other types of hazards.”
Vail (CO) Fire and Emergency Services
VFES has a total of 43 paid full-time personnel, which includes 12 firefighters, nine engineers, nine lieutenants, three battalion chiefs, a fire marshal, a fire chief, an administrative assistant, a wildland program manager, and six seasonal wildland firefighters. VFES operates four all-wheel-drive Type I engines, one 75-foot quint, one 85-foot tower ladder, two Type 6 wildland engines, three 4×4 utility trucks, and one command vehicle.
1 Vail (CO) Fire and Emergency Services new pumper is built on an Enforcer cab and chassis and is powered by a Cummins X12 500-hp engine. (Photo courtesy of Pierce Manufacturing.)
2 The driver’s side showing rope bags, auto extrication tools, engine company fittings and tools, and the enclosed pump panel. [Photos 2-6 courtesy of Vail (CO) Fire and Emergency Services.]
3 The officer’s side showing hose packs, WUI tools, cribbing, and portable lighting.
4 The rear of the vehicle showing hose loads.
5 A compartment with hose racks and portable lighting.
“The department has an apparatus replacement program that replaces engines every 15 years and ladders every 20 years,” says Ocepek. “We needed to replace one of our engines, so we formed an apparatus committee consisting of 12 members. While some people in the fire service might think that is excessive because of too many opinions in the mix, we felt that we needed just the opposite. We wanted everyone who would be operating this apparatus to have a chance to give their input. The whole process started in 2019 with drawing up specs.”
Since the early 1990s, Vail has been a Pierce customer and is familiar with its products, maintenance, and operation. The department still went out to bid at the end of 2020, and Pierce was the winner. “When we designed this new engine, we wanted a basic type of pumper, which stayed away from all the electronics that a lot of new apparatus have,” says Ocepek. “It would have to be an all-hazard type of engine. It would need to be able to handle basic structural fires, basic life support, WUI, and light auto extrication.”
Pierce Enforcer 4×4 Pumper
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6 These compartments contain assorted hand tools and various fire extinguishers.
The department chose a Pierce Enforcer 4×4, which basically mirrors Vail’s other two engines. It needed to have adequate height clearance for operations on snow-covered roads and also needed a maximum speed of 50 miles per hour. “We went with a Waterous pump, which gives us standard operation for our firefighters; directional light bars on each side and the rear of the apparatus; and an all Whelen LED light package with its CenCom light system that gives us normal bright lights when responding and then changes to a dimmer mode when the apparatus is parked,” states Ocepek. “The reflection of the lighting off of the snow is a real problem when the apparatus is parked at a scene, so having the dimming feature works great for us,” he adds. “We didn’t spec a generator as we felt that the 12-V inverter gives us enough electric power.”
The rig carries 700 feet of 5-inch, two 200-foot 1¾-inch crosslays, and 200 feet of 2½-inch off the rear. “We also have mixture of 250 feet of 1¾- and 2½-inch hose load packs in the compartments,” says Ocepek.
Also carried in the pumper’s compartments are struts, rope, and related equipment; eDRAULIC battery-powered extrication tools; basic life support equipment; WUI tools; and basic engine company tools and fittings. Also designed were special compartments over the wheel wells for driver and officer helmets and gear storage. The vehicle incorporates an all-red color scheme with blacked out running boards and no chrome to save wear and tear on diamond plate because of the salt used on the roads.
VFES and its apparatus committee have designed a multifunction apparatus that covers all of the target hazards in its response area. The engine was designed to operate in all of its environments and covers fires, emergencies, WUI, EMS, structure fires, and auto extrication. The compartments and operation were well thought out during the spec-writing phase with all operators giving their input as well.
Apparatus delivery times have been challenging, with delivery times of three years or more for new apparatus. Planning in advance has taken on a new meaning in this day and age. So if you are planning on a new apparatus purchase any time in the foreseeable future, start the process well in advance to meet your response area commitments.
BOB VACCARO has more than 40 years of fire service experience. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (NY) Fire Department. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, the New York Fire Patrol, and several major commercial insurance companies as a senior loss-control consultant. He is a life member of the IAFC.
