West Metro Fire Rescue

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West Metro Fire Rescue

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West Metro Fire Protection District is a fire and rescue agency, headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado. We ask that you stay on topic and be kind.

This page was created to let you know what's going on within the West Metro Fire Rescue district. We welcome our community's comments, suggestions and engagement. If you use inappropriate language, or make inappropriate suggestions, insult or threaten other users- we will delete your comment(s). If you continue to violate the terms of use, you will be banned from the page. We also do not allow business advertisements, solicitation of services or spam.

10/29/2026

More than 32 years of public service. One well-earned retirement.
West Metro Fire Investigator Matt Araki was officially rung out today, marking the end of more than three decades in the military and fire service.
Matt's career began in the U.S. Air Force, where he spent five years on active duty and another three in the reserves. In 2001, he became a firefighter with Inter-Canyon Fire, joining West Metro five years later.
As a fire investigator, Matt has spent years digging into the ashes, looking for answers and helping determine how fires start. He's also shared his expertise with other investigators, helping train the next generation to uncover the causes of wildfires.
Around the fire station, Matt was known for his sense of humor, quick wit and ability to keep things light, even on the toughest days.
Today, we marked his retirement with a traditional ringing-out ceremony, celebrating his career and the start of a new chapter with more time to spend with friends and family.

10/29/2026

Halloween should be full of treats, not trips to the emergency room! 🎃👻
Before your little ghosts and goblins head out for trick-or-treating, take a minute to brush up on some Halloween safety tips.
From staying visible after dark to watching for traffic, a few simple precautions can help keep the night fun and safe.
Watch our video before heading out, then share it with family and friends. A minute of safety now can help prevent an emergency later.
Happy Halloween from West Metro Fire Rescue! 🎃

10/28/2026

Being ready for wildfire starts long before the first plume of smoke appears.
It starts with making sure every firefighter has the protective gear they need to do the job safely.
Outfitting one West Metro wildland firefighter with personal protective equipment and essential gear costs about $3,700. Across our 425 firefighters, that's an investment of more than $1.57 million in PPE and personal equipment alone.
It's one of the many behind-the-scenes investments that help ensure our firefighters are ready to respond when our community needs them.
Costs are rising. You've seen it at the grocery store and at the gas pump. West Metro sees it in the cost of outfitting the firefighters who protect our community.

10/28/2026

On August 28, a drive on C-470 turned into a life-or-death emergency for Lance Rogers and his wife, Margie Fouracre.
Lance suddenly became unresponsive. He was in cardiac arrest.
Margie quickly grabbed the steering wheel, brought their vehicle to a stop and called 911.
Three Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputies were first on scene and immediately began CPR. Moments later, West Metro Engine 11 and Medic 13 arrived and took over lifesaving efforts.
Firefighters moved Lance into the ambulance and continued working to save his life. On the way to the hospital, they got his pulse back.
Lance went on to have heart surgery, followed by time in rehabilitation. Today, he's back home with Margie, having made a full recovery.
From Margie's quick actions and the deputies' immediate CPR to the advanced lifesaving care provided by West Metro firefighter/paramedics, every link in the chain of survival mattered.
And for Lance and Margie, those actions made all the difference. A powerful reminder that CPR saves lives.
In recognition of their lifesaving efforts, the West Metro firefighters and paramedics who responded to the call were presented with certificates of recognition.
(in front of fire engine- left to right: Firefighter/Paramedic Dietrich Shockcor, Firefighter/Paramedic Julie Oberriter, Deputy Dana, Margie Fouracre, Melanie Rogers. (back: Lt. Matt Sulentic, Lance Rogers, Engineer Brian Holcomb, Firefighter Hudson Cropp)
(not pictured: Firefighter Jacob Leask, Deputy Graser, Investigator Gonzalez)

10/26/2026

Close the door. Contain the fire.
Fire needs oxygen to grow. Open doors allow air to feed the flames, causing fire and smoke to spread faster.
In this video, our firefighters see fire behavior firsthand during a training exercise- a demonstration of how airflow affects fire growth and fire spread.
The lesson: if there's a fire where you live- get out, close the doors behind you, and stay out. Call 911 once you're safely outside.

10/25/2026

Fire trucks, costumes and plenty of Halloween fun!
The crew from West Metro Engine 15 traded calls for candy duty on Saturday, joining the fun at Roxborough Primary and Intermediate School's Trunk or Treat.
Our firefighters had a great time checking out some creative costumes and visiting with kids and families.
It's always fun to spend time with the community we serve. Thanks for inviting us!

10/24/2026

Sticker shock is real. We don’t have to tell you that- prices are up everywhere.
You see it at the grocery store, when you pay for repairs or when it’s time to replace a vehicle.
West Metro is seeing it, too.
In 2018, West Metro paid $633,267 for a fire engine like this one. Today, a comparable new engine costs $1,384,099.
That’s nearly a 119% increase in nine years.
When we buy an engine, we get a lot of use out of it. At West Metro, an engine typically spends 20 years in front-line service, assigned to a station and responding to calls every day, followed by another five years as a reserve.
That’s 25 years responding to fires, medical emergencies, crashes, rescues and other calls for help.
But eventually, every engine reaches the end of its service life. And when you consider rising prices across an entire fleet- not just fire engines, but ambulances and other emergency vehicles- the costs add up quickly.
That’s why we want our community to understand what it costs to provide emergency services, how long we use the equipment we purchase and how much those costs have changed.

10/23/2026

Eleven days ago, this ground was black. Today, it's turning green.
Fresh grass is already pushing through the burned areas at Bear Creek Lake Park, where we conducted prescribed fire operations on October 12.
It's a great example of how fire can play a positive role in a healthy ecosystem. Prescribed burns help remove dead vegetation, reduce wildfire risk and return nutrients to the soil, creating conditions for new growth.
And with a little help from recent rain, the landscape is already bouncing back.
Sometimes, the best way to understand the benefits of prescribed fire is to watch what happens afterward.

10/22/2026

Could something in your home be putting you and your family at risk?
From kitchen appliances to heated blankets, several products are raising serious safety concerns, including fire hazards, overheating and burns.
We've rounded up some of the latest product safety alerts for October. Take a minute to watch, check what you have at home, and share this with someone who might have one of these products.
A quick check now could prevent an emergency later.
For more information on product recalls, visit www.cpsc.gov/recalls.

10/21/2026

This truck is built for fighting wildfires.
It's one of the most frequently used vehicles in West Metro's wildland fleet. Smaller and more maneuverable than a traditional fire engine, a Type 6 brush truck is designed to quickly access grass fires, navigate narrow roads and trails, and help protect homes threatened by wildfire.
In 2021, West Metro purchased one for $219,543.
Today, that same truck costs $306,000-an increase of nearly 40% in just four years.
At the same time, wildfire remains one of the biggest concerns we hear from our community. Residents consistently tell us they want firefighters to have the equipment and training needed to respond when the next wildfire threatens homes and neighborhoods.
Providing that level of protection means investing in specialized apparatus like this brush truck. As the cost of those vehicles continues to climb, so does the cost of maintaining the level of service our community expects.

Address

433 S Allison Pkwy
Lakewood, CO
80226

Telephone

+13039894307

Website

https://www.westmetrofire.org/job-postings

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