DFPC Today

As of March 2017, the Division of Fire Prevention and Control has a $27,047,734 total appropriation that funds 110.9 Full-time equivalent (FTE)* employees, and five sections, each of which contributes uniquely to the mission of the organization. DFPC's programs are mandated by State statute. Broadly, each section exists to assist local jurisdictions and stakeholder groups with various fire functions.

Professional Qualifications and Training Section

The Professional Qualifications and Training Section has 5 FTE. This section was started in 1987 as part of the Division of Fire Safety. Its main program areas include the voluntary firefighter certification program, testing and training firefighters in accordance with national standards, grant administration, and various support responsibilities to both statewide and nationwide stakeholder groups.

Fire and Life Safety Section

The Fire and Life Safety Section has 28.5 FTE. This section was formed during the 2012 consolidation that transferred the Division of Fire Safety into the Division of Fire Prevention and Control. Its main program areas include the fire suppression registration and certification program, the public school and junior college construction and inspection program, the healthcare facilities construction and inspection program, the fireworks program, and several other smaller programs to ensure that fewer institutional fires burn in Colorado, and when they do, the people of Colorado are safer from that threat.

Wildland Fire Management Section

The Wildland Fire Management Section (WFMS) has 61.4 FTE. Wildland fire management programs and responsibilities were transferred over from the Colorado State Forest Service in 2012. This section is broken down into a plans branch and an operations branch. Its main program areas include wildfire preparedness, incident funding, technical assistance to local agencies, prescribed fire management, and provision of wildfire aviation and other resources. This section employs several permanent-part-time employees to respond to wildland fires and assist with other fire management programs.

Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting

The Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting has 9 FTE. It was formed in 2014 as a result of legislation that funded the WFMS Aviation Program. Its mission is to protect the citizens, land, and resources in Colorado, the Center of Excellence will research, test, and evaluate existing and new technologies that support sustainable, effective, and efficient aerial firefighting techniques. This section recommends and assists with improvements to the WFMS Aviation Program and researches new technologies and capabilities and how to integrate them into aerial firefighting.

Support Services Section

The Support Services Section has 7 FTE. It was formed to consolidate the DFPC members who provide support functions to the entire Division. This section houses policy analysts, public information officer, grants manager, National Fire Incident Reporting System manager, human resources liaison, and many of DFPC‚ and administrative assistants.

Executive Director's Office

The Executive Director's Office (EDO) is not a section within DFPC, but it provides many support functions that are essential to the organization. DFPC members who managed budget, accounting, and other functions were aligned into the EDO in 2016 to maximize internal resources and improve communication and collaboration across the Department of Public Safety. Members of this section who support DFPC provide budget, accounting, and procurement services, wildland fire billing, and State fleet vehicle, wildland fire equipment, and other wildfire logistics support. The EDO also includes executive leadership, human resources, legislative support, compliance, planning, and communication to all CDPS Divisions.