On Monday, March 16 at 8 a.m. Aurora Fire Rescue implemented
a fourth battalion. Prior to the
transition, Aurora Fire Rescue’s 16 fire stations were divided into 3
battalions, or districts, each commanded by a Battalion Chief.
In the fall of 2019 the department was advised that Aurora City
Council had amended the 2020 budget to include an additional 5 full time
employees, making it possible to staff a fourth battalion. This amendment is
supported by a $809,580 federally funded grant that was awarded to Aurora Fire
Rescue as part of FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response
(SAFER) program.
The added battalion will allow the department to effectively
manage two complex incidents within the City of Aurora simultaneously with both
an Incident Commander and an Incident Safety Officer. This addresses a critical need for safety
oversight and will help the department administratively, with an added
supervisor to disseminate critical information and improve the communication
process.
Aurora Fire Rescue provides fire suppression, emergency
medical services and all-hazard response in the City of Aurora. The department is currently building its
seventeenth fire station and employs more than 450 uniformed members.