WILDLAND RESPONSE
Wildland Fire Response
Experience Beyond Our Boundaries. Protection Within Our Community.
Protecting Our Mountain Community
The breathtaking landscapes surrounding Broadmoor Fire Rescue's response district are among the most recognizable in Colorado. From the forested slopes of Cheyenne Mountain to the historic grounds of The Broadmoor resort, our community is surrounded by natural beauty that also presents significant wildfire challenges.
Steep terrain, dense vegetation, limited access routes, changing weather conditions, and the proximity of homes and businesses to wildland areas create a complex environment for emergency responders. Protecting these areas requires more than firefighting equipment. It demands specialized training, operational experience, strong regional partnerships, and a thorough understanding of how wildfires behave in mountainous terrain.
Broadmoor Fire Rescue maintains an active wildland fire response program dedicated to meeting these challenges through year-round preparation, coordinated emergency operations, and participation in wildland incidents throughout Colorado and across the nation.
Experience Forged on the Fireline
Our firefighters understand the destructive potential of wildfire because they have experienced it firsthand.
Broadmoor Fire Rescue personnel participated in the response to large fire incidents throughout the state and even the two of El Paso County's most devastating wildfires: the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire and the 2013 Black Forest Fire. These incidents demonstrated how rapidly wildfire can threaten established neighborhoods, critical infrastructure, and entire communities under extreme conditions.
The lessons learned from these major incidents continue to reinforce the importance of preparation, situational awareness, firefighter safety, and coordinated response.
Since 2011, Broadmoor Fire Rescue has also participated in wildland fire deployments beyond our immediate response district. Through this program, qualified personnel have opportunities to work alongside experienced wildland firefighters on incidents involving varied terrain, vegetation, weather conditions, and fire behavior.
These deployments are more than an opportunity to assist other communities. They are an investment in the capabilities of our own department.
Firefighters return with practical experience in fireline operations, hazard recognition, incident management, resource coordination, and tactical decision-making. Exposure to large and complex incidents strengthens the skills that our personnel rely upon when wildfire threatens the Broadmoor community.
The experience gained on fires across the country directly contributes to our readiness here at home.
Professional Training and Incident Management
Wildland firefighting requires a specialized understanding of fire behavior, weather, topography, and the relationship between vegetation and the built environment.
Broadmoor Fire Rescue personnel receive training in wildland fire operations and utilize nationally recognized systems and resources, including:
National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG): Wildland firefighting training, qualifications, operational standards, and established safety practices.
National Weather Service (NWS): Fire weather forecasts, Red Flag Warnings, weather observations, and information critical to evaluating changing fire conditions.
National Incident Management System (NIMS): A standardized framework for coordinating personnel, equipment, communications, and resources during emergencies.
Incident Command System (ICS): An organized command structure that allows agencies of different sizes and jurisdictions to operate together effectively.
These resources support informed decision-making, accountability, and safe operations during incidents ranging from small vegetation fires to rapidly expanding wildland emergencies.
Our commitment to continued training and field experience ensures that firefighters are prepared to recognize developing hazards, adapt to changing conditions, and operate effectively as part of a coordinated emergency response.
Strong Partnerships. Unified Response.
Wildfire does not recognize jurisdictional boundaries. A fire beginning on a remote hillside can quickly threaten neighboring properties, communities, and critical infrastructure.
Broadmoor Fire Rescue works closely with the El Paso County Wildland Fire Team, Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD), and surrounding mutual aid agencies to strengthen regional preparedness and emergency response capabilities.
These partnerships are essential when incidents require additional personnel, specialized equipment, coordinated incident command, or extended operational support.
By training, planning, and responding alongside neighboring agencies, our firefighters develop the working relationships and operational familiarity necessary to function as part of a larger response organization.
This regional approach helps ensure that when wildfire conditions escalate, agencies can coordinate resources and operations effectively to protect lives and property.
Protecting The Broadmoor's Mountain Destinations
One of the distinctive responsibilities of Broadmoor Fire Rescue is supporting the safety of the world-renowned The Broadmoor Hotel and Resort and its associated mountain properties.
Beyond the main resort, destinations such as Seven Falls, Cloud Camp, and Emerald Valley Ranch present unique emergency response considerations due to their remote settings, mountainous terrain, surrounding vegetation, and access limitations.
These locations attract visitors from around the world and represent an important part of the region's tourism, recreation, and hospitality economy.
Wildfire preparedness at these properties requires careful consideration of access and evacuation routes, emergency communications, fire behavior, and the ability to move responding personnel and equipment through challenging terrain.
Broadmoor Fire Rescue works closely with resort personnel to support emergency preparedness, coordinate response considerations, and maintain an understanding of the operational challenges associated with these unique destinations.
Our responsibility extends beyond protecting buildings. It includes the safety of resort employees, guests, visitors, and the surrounding natural environment, while supporting the continued operation and resilience of these important community destinations.
Bringing National Experience Home
The value of our wildland deployment program is measured not only by the assistance provided to communities experiencing major wildfires, but also by the knowledge our firefighters bring back to Broadmoor.
Each assignment offers opportunities to encounter different fuel types, fire behavior, suppression strategies, operational challenges, and incident management practices.
That experience contributes to our department's ability to evaluate wildfire threats, make informed tactical decisions, and coordinate effectively with additional resources when emergencies occur within our own district.
Combined with our understanding of local terrain, access challenges, and community infrastructure, this experience helps Broadmoor Fire Rescue maintain a capable and adaptable wildland response program.
Our Commitment to Wildfire Readiness
Wildfire remains one of the most significant natural hazards facing communities along Colorado's Front Range. As development continues near forested and mountainous areas, the importance of preparedness, prevention, and effective emergency response continues to grow.
Broadmoor Fire Rescue remains committed to protecting our residents, businesses, visitors, and natural resources through professional training, operational experience, regional cooperation, and proactive emergency preparedness.
From the residential neighborhoods of the Broadmoor area to the remote destinations along Cheyenne Mountain, our firefighters recognize the responsibility that comes with protecting such a unique environment.
We train locally, respond regionally, and gain experience nationally—all with one purpose: to be better prepared when our own community needs us most.