Golden Fire Department 2026-31 Strategic Plan
The Golden Fire Department is developing its 2026–31 Strategic Plan to guide how the department serves the community over the next five years. This community-driven effort began in October 2025 with a facilitated meeting involving community members, followed by a series of stakeholder work sessions with Golden Fire Department staff.
Throughout the process, participants examined current practices, core values, and long-held assumptions to better understand future needs and opportunities beyond the status quo. The result is a draft framework built around five strategic goals that reflect both operational realities and community priorities.
Share Your Feedback on the Strategic Plan Goals
Community feedback is a critical next step in shaping the final Strategic Plan. Input received will help validate priorities, identify gaps, and refine actions to ensure the plan reflects the needs, expectations, and values of those the Golden Fire Department serves.
If you were unable to attend the Fire Strategic Plan Open House on January 29, 2026, you can still participate. We invite you to review the proposed strategic goals and share your thoughts through the Strategic Planning Goals Survey.
Your feedback will directly inform how the plan is finalized and implemented, helping the Golden Fire Department become more efficient, effective, and aligned with Golden’s evolving needs.
History and Background
Founded in 1879, the Golden Fire Department is one of the oldest fire departments in Colorado. What began as a small, all-volunteer organization has evolved into a modern combination department that blends career and volunteer personnel while maintaining a strong tradition of community service.
Today, the department serves a diverse response area that includes the City of Golden, the Colorado School of Mines campus, the Jefferson County government center, nearby open space parks, and major transportation corridors such as I-70, C-470, and US-6. Golden’s mix of residential neighborhoods, higher education, government facilities, tourism, and outdoor recreation creates a wide range of emergency response needs.
The department operates from two stations with a combination of career and volunteer staff. Full-time personnel staff multiple apparatus across three shifts, supported by approximately 35 volunteers who expand capacity in fire suppression, wildland response, technical rescue, and emergency medical services. Additional career staff provide essential support in training, prevention, and administration.
The Golden Fire Department also plays an active role in the regional fire service network through mutual aid and automatic aid agreements with neighboring jurisdictions, allowing resources to be shared quickly during complex or large-scale incidents.
Together, this structure and history position the department to respond to all hazards while continuing its nearly 150-year commitment to protecting the Golden community and surrounding region.