After More Than 100 Years, Englewood May Lose Its Fire Department

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - Englewood's city manager says the fire department needs millions of dollars to stay open or the city will have to look elsewhere for emergency services.

The department has been operating for more than 100 years, but it is drowing in red ink, according to City Manager Eric Keck. Keck filed a report that the department needs more than $27 million in order for it to be fixed and properly funded.

The Englewood City Council is set to meet about the issue on Monday night and will be taking public comments. On Sunday residents shared concerns with CBS4.

"This is the first time I've heard this," Rosanna Boaz told CBS4.

"It's pretty shocking, isn't it?" CBS4's Howard Nathan asked. To which she replied "Yes."

Tammy Mullens, another Englewood resident, said "I don't want to lose it. We need it, there's children here, we need to keep it here."

Keeping it may not be possible. Keck's report says two fire stations, Jefferson and Acoma, need to be relocated and replaced. The Tejon station is apparently on the chopping block altogether, and there's a long list of equipment the city manager says the department needs.

"How did they get so far behind? What's the structure," resident Matt Pizzichemi wondered. "Has there been miscommunications between the city and fire department?"

The manager says he's not intending to offend anyone with his report, but he also says the needs of the fire department were neglected.

"What I think about all of this red ink is I like paying taxes because I like having a fire department and police," resident Kate Shipman told CBS4.

If the fire department winds up being eliminated, officials with the Denver Fire Department and South Metro Fire Rescue Authority have stated they would be interested in filling the void.

Denver Fire appears to be the cheapest option. Hiring them would cost Englewood approximately $6 million and there would be no tax increase for citizens.

But for residents like Boaz, city pride is at stake.

"I always just wanted to keep Englewood, Englewood and Denver is Denver," she said.

The City Council hopes to reach a decision on what to do with the department by Feb. 9.