Colorado River Fire Rescue, the fire and emergency services district serving the middle part of Garfield County, is entering a search for a new fire chief after now-former fire chief Rob Jones stepped down at the end of 2018.
CRFR Board President Alan Lambert said Jones’ exit was a personal decision on the chief’s part. He had been chief for almost three years, including time as interim chief before he was formally named chief in September 2014.
The department brought in interim fire chief Randy Callahan from Boulder Rural Fire Protection District to replace Jones for the time being.
At Tuesday’s CRFR board meeting, the search for a new chief was discussed, with the board agreeing to use McGrath Human Resources Group to recruit and screen applicants.
The consulting firm will receive $17,250 to conduct the search, which includes recruitment services, assessing the candidates and assisting in the interview process, as well as $6,000 for travel expenses.
Lambert explained that CRFR will be looking for someone with several years of administration background, rather than focusing on frontline fire-fighting experience.
Lambert said the new chief will need vast budgetary and human resources experience, and will be responsible for day-to-day operations at the department.
During the May 2018 board election, CRFR had its most contested race for several open seats since the Rifle and Burning Mountain fire districts merged into one six years ago.
Paige Haderlie and Addy Marantino took on four-year terms, while Lambert was selected for a two-year seat on the board.
The election results came a little more than a year after a discrimination claim against the department was filed in March 2017. In a formal lawsuit filed in federal court last February, a female firefighter claimed she was subject to gender discrimination and sexual harassment during her time with the department.