To see a full-page copy of Poudre Fire Authority's Organization Chart - Click Here.  Below is brief narrative of each division of PFA to learn more about what they do. 

PFA Headquarters - Administrative Services

Administrative Services is responsible for providing administrative assistance to all PFA divisions in the areas of financial management, payroll, personnel records, policies, insurance, risk management, strategic planning, human resources, information technology, PFA board and council reports, and coordination of the department's legal matters.

Mailing address: 102 Remington St., Fort Collins, CO 80524

Office of the Fire Chief

The Office of the Fire Chief provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and organizational oversight for the Poudre Fire Authority (Authority) under the general direction of the PFA Board of Directors.  This office ensures that all Authority operations align with the Authority’s mission, vision, and guiding principles to serve the community by saving lives and the protection of property through collaboration, innovation, and commitment to excellence.  The Administrative functions within this program include property and liability insurance administration, coordination of legal services, oversight of compliance and risk management activities, and governance, as well as securing positive interjurisdictional relations with all necessary public and private entities. The fire chief also oversees the Public Information Officer and six main divisions of the Authority: Operations Division, Support, Planning & Analysis Division, Training Division, Fire Prevention and Community Risk Reduction Division, Finance Division, and Human Resources Division.  The Fire Chief and senior leadership work out of PFA Headquarters. 

Fire Chief Derek Bergsten was sworn in May 2021.  Learn more about your fire chief here.  

Operations Division

Operations Division is responsible for providing high quality, timely, compassionate, and effective emergency services to all people and businesses within PFA's service area. PFA services include but aren't limited to: structural and wildland fire suppression; motor vehicle accident extrication; high and low angle rescue; trench rescue; still and swift water rescue; hazardous materials incident response; emergency medical services; and more. 

In many cases, the Operations Division cooperates with other agencies to provide services in these specialty areas. Some of our partners include UCHealth, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Fort Collins Police Services, Larimer County Emergency Services, Larimer County Search and Rescue, and the United States Forest Service. PFA also has many auto and mutual aid agreements with surrounding fire departments. 

PFA is also part of Colorado Task Force 1, which provides urban search and rescue functions for all types of natural and manmade disasters. Colorado Task Force 1 is one of many urban search and rescue groups located across the country. They are managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and can be deployed anywhere in the country, and around the world.

Support Division

The Support Division encompasses PFA's areas of occupational health and safety, Information technology, geographic information services, data analysis and public records, facilities, and apparatus.  The division provides many of the ancillary services required to keep the daily operations of PFA functioning at a high level.   Each of these services provide critical and necessary information and support for all the operations of the Poudre Fire Authority.  

Training Division

The Training Division oversees department training, development, education, and certification in the areas of firefighting and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Staff works with all levels of the authority from academy recruits to seasoned uniformed veterans. In addition, the division oversees the Volunteer and Seasonal firefighters and several programs and committees including fire suppression, hiring, promotions, recruitment, and policies. 

Our sworn employees train over 50,000 hours a year on average to ensure they are as prepared as possible for any call that could come their way.

People from emergency response agencies and partner organizations, from across the state, nation, and even the world, come together at PFA's northwest Fort Collins Training Center to collaborate, learn new skills, and hone existing skills. 

Fire Prevention and Community Risk Reduction (FPCRR)

FPCRR is responsible for administering safety and fire prevention programs.  These programs include fire protection systems, inspection services, investigations, commercial construction, public education, and hazardous materials regulation.   

Working alongside design professionals, contractors, developers, and citizens, Technical Services provides guidance and oversight throughout the development and construction process. Staff members evaluate each project for compliance with locally adopted codes and standards, verifying that proposed designs and constructed systems meet required safety provisions. Technical Services exists to safeguard the community by ensuring that buildings and development projects meet established life safety standards from concept through completion.

Inspection Services is responsible for ensures public safety by enforcing fire codes and preventing hazards in buildings. Fire inspectors focus on prevention measures by educating business owners regarding life safety and maintenance requirements of fire protection systems. Buildings and facilities are inspected periodically to detect and correct possible hazards.

The Community Health Program (CHP) seeks to increase our community members quality of life through prevention, education, and coordination of care. Partnering with UCHealth, we have created a program that will help members of our community who may not have access to services or may not know about services that could elevate their well-being. 

We investigate fires using a scientific method to determine their origin and cause. Our findings help identify risks and develop prevention strategies to reduce future fire incidents. 

PFA offers a robust selection of education and outreach programs. Our risk reduction specialists teach free non-certifying CPR courses, review car seat installations, serve as mentors for PFA's Youth Firesetter Program, and coordinate smoke and carbon monoxide alarm installation events in areas of higher risk. 

Learn more about the courses offered by PFA, our presence at community events, and information about how to make your home, family, and overall life safer here. 

The public information officers share incident updates and education on our social media channels, so you can stay up to date and informed about what is happening in your community. 

You will often see the Outreach and Education Team alongside firefighter crews at community events and in schools. 

Finance Division

The Finance Division is comprised of budget development and management, financial reporting and analysis, procurement and purchasing oversight, grants management, audit compliance, and internal controls. 

The PFA Finance Division objectives are to advance excellence in public finance by promoting best practices in financial reporting, budgeting, and long-term financial planning, while also developing finance professionals through educational programs and recognizing high standards of achievement in financial reporting and public service, notably the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Excellence (GFOA Award).  

Human Resources Division

The heart of any organization is its people.  At PFA we believe our most important asset is our people.  The Human Resources (HR) Division is responsible for managing the human capital, ensuring employees are hired and retained effectively.  

HR encompasses organizational development, competitive compensation practices, compliance and policy management, employee and labor relation issues, payroll and benefit administration, talent acquisition, time and attendance, workers compensation, and fosters a positive culture.  

These functions are essential for driving performance, enhancing employee engagement, and supporting strategic planning.