Message from Chief Fernando Gray - Department Response to COVID-19
As Aurora’s Fire Chief I want to send a message to our community
during this unprecedented time in our history. My
hope is that you read
this message and are encouraged that the 450+ men and women of Aurora
Fire Rescue are well-trained, professional and courageous in service to
our community during this crisis.
Our commitment to compassionate patient care is unwavering during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The Aurora Fire Rescue Executive Staff has developed
alternative staffing models for administrative positions and have also
enacted portions of our Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). We will
redirect resources as needed to ensure that our line personnel have the
appropriate support needed to respond to you in the safest way possible.
Here on our website you may notice that we’ve suspended all of our
community outreach programs, reallocating resources where necessary. We
have always promised to uphold the following values – this is what you
can expect from every level of the organization:
Respect • Integrity • Professionalism • Customer Service
Aurora Fire Rescue follows written EMS protocols and response guidelines
which are being reviewed and adapted regularly in order to best respond
during this outbreak. We work with local physicians and medical experts
to ensure our firefighters and paramedics are trained and equipped to
meet the needs of our patients.
On behalf of the organization, I want to commend local health care
workers and area hospitals that have responded with great
professionalism and urgency to the demands placed on them during this
time. We are proud of the partnerships we’ve formed with University of
Colorado Hospital (UCHealth), Children’s Hospital Colorado and The
Medical Center of Aurora. These three facilities are an asset to our
residents and to the state of Colorado; our department will continue to
work closely and collaborate with them.
In conjunction with the Aurora’s Office of Emergency Management we
continually assess the situation from a national, regional and local
perspective to ensure we’re prepared to meet Aurora’s specific needs.
This allows us to model the best practices that have been implemented in
patient care across the country. It also allows us to monitor the most
up-to-date guidance on personal protective equipment recommendations for
our personnel in order to limit exposure to our community.
I hope you’ll join me in recognizing the members of Aurora Fire Rescue,
the men and women who are prepared to respond 24/7 in all conditions.
They are united in their mission to provide you with the upmost
professional care and I have great confidence in their dedication. For
future updates and helpful messages during the COVID-19 pandemic, please
follow our social media channels.
Contact Aurora Fire Rescue
Headquarters
Phone: 303.326.8999 • Fax: 303.326.8986 •
Fire@AuroraGov.org
Chief Fernando Gray
FireChief@AuroraGov.org
Public Information & Media Relations Office
Phone: 720.477.0315 •
AFDPIO@AuroraGov.org
City of Aurora Public Safety Training Center (CAPSTC)
303.739.1600