Aurora Fire details expanded wildland program, aims to contain fires to 0.1 acre in most cases

Division Chief Brian Good of Aurora Fire briefed the Public Safety, Courts, and Civil Service Policy Committee on the department’s wildland program, describing greater wildfire risk from extensive open spaces and changing climate conditions and outlining staffing, apparatus and mitigation plans.

Good said Aurora has moved to require Red Card certification for hires since 2020 and currently counts about 272 Red Card‑qualified members. He discussed the department’s wildland specialty teams based at stations 13 and 8 and mutual‑aid arrangements that allow Aurora to deploy reimbursed crews statewide and receive support in return.

On apparatus, Good said the department operates six Type‑VI brush engines (Ford F‑550 chassis, about 300‑gallon tanks and pump‑and‑roll capability), one Type‑III 4x4 brush engine (about 600 gallons) and a 30,000‑gallon tender positioned at station 15 to support east‑side incidents and stretches such as E‑470 where hydrants are scarce. He said the department is pursuing two additional Type‑III engines and more Type‑VI units and recently upgraded tenders from 1,500 to 3,000 gallons to improve water‑shuttle efficiency.

“Our goal right now is to contain any wildland type incident of within one‑tenth of an acre, 90% of the time,” Good said, explaining the rationale for tiered upstaffing and a data‑driven approach on red‑flag weather days. He described placing brush trucks selectively based on fire‑weather metrics and running patrols on critical days to catch small ignitions before they spread.

Good emphasized mitigation and watershed protection, noting partnerships with Aurora Water and Parks, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) to manage fuels in open space and protect reservoirs and pump stations. During Q&A he said the department monitors fuel growth, coordinates mitigation plans with conservation partners and limits use of fire retardants near water supplies: “we don't want those fire retardants to get into our water supply,” he said.

Good also described community outreach with neighborhood HOAs and organizations such as Sand Creek and the Plains Conservation Center to promote fire‑hardening practices while balancing habitat and aesthetic considerations. He said wildfire season is effectively lengthening and the department is adapting by increasing training, equipment and mutual‑aid readiness.

The committee did not take formal action on the update; members asked clarification questions about watershed monitoring and thanked the division chief for the briefing.