Dear Editor,

I usually do not take an issue to the public, trying first to internalize, and second to solve within. But this issue has grown to the point where I think the public needs to have some insight into this as well.

Last Wednesday, August 19. 2020, the Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) Board of Directors, during an executive session of a special meeting, voted by a narrow margin of 3-1 (would have been 3-2 if I was available for the meeting), to suspend the current Fire Chief (Rick Dirr), for a duration of two month with pay. 

The suspension was vaguely explained and justified as a consequence of an alleged safety violation by the Chief on a recent emergency. The suspension was not an outcome of the actual result of an investigation but merely a punitive action by the new board members to allow for an investigation to take place and pre-maturely vacate the office of the Fire Chief.  

An experienced and smart board would have looked at the issue, reviewed the facts and made a decision within less than a week! A two month investigation is completely irresponsible and shows the retributory nature of this board’s intention towards the Chief.    

Unfortunately, this has been the predisposition from the new board members since the election back in May of 2020. The incredibly negative tone during the election, the undermining and disparaging allegations of every aspect of the then members of the board, has had only one purpose and that was to permanently suspend the current Fire Chief. This is not just my opinion. This is a fact that I have heard from conversations with members of the fire department and even members of the current board. The new board, from day one has tried to find disputes with the Chief to justify such a suspension. When failed, the board voted to implement procedures and processes that they knew the Chief could not reasonably complete to the satisfaction of the board, hence providing more ammunition against him.

I know the new board members like to cite transparency and integrity during their meetings and speeches, which at this time sounds nothing more than a cheap cliché. The new board members are operating way outside the scope of what a special district board should provide and allow. This board now acts in many ways as the judge, jury and executioner and has completely invalidated the office of the fire chief.  There is a complete lack of following the chain of command and has been since the election back in May. Board members have had and continue having direct, private meetings with the members of the department and vice-versa without the knowledge of the Chief or even other members of the board. The new board members have successfully recruited the support of some members of the public and members of the fire department supporting their rationale and decision making.

I am in no way advocating that we run a rogue and undisciplined department. But there is a reason the fire chief is making decisions – sometimes unpopular ones with members. When at the end of the day something does go wrong it is him that suffers the consequences of the outcome!  Nederland in many ways is a unique community unlike any other. Trying to fit our town, our district into the same categories that apply to Boulder or Castle Rock does simply not work. Our town and fire district require unique decision-making ability, a nimble and common-sense leadership team.  As far as I am concerned, Chief Dirr, as well as the previous board have provided that for this community. With that said, I am sure we were not without faults and shortcomings, but we always had the best interests of the residents of our district, visitors and our own firefighter families.

Chief Dirr has served this community for 30 years, 20 years as its Fire Chief. I have a very hard time believing that the recent, intentionally planned occurrences are an adequate measure to suspend him from his position. The Chief and his wife Kate Dirr, a reserve member of the district, have more EMS experience then the entire rest of the fire department combined. To allow this new board to reject these incredible valuable skills when about 70% to 75% of our emergencies are EMS related, and we are in the midst of a hyperactive wildland fire season, is an inconceivable poor decision on their part and leaves the district exposed to bad outcomes. The current command structure, with the Chief suspended, has the much less experienced shift captains in charge with two new board members running the front office in the capacity of a self-proclaimed fire chief. Again, an incredible overreach of the powers and duties of a district board!   

In addition to having a professional responsibility, we also have a social obligation to our community and district. For a few resentful individuals to try to uproot an entire family that has been such a valuable part of this community is simply not how you treat a public servant. 

I for one will not support this shameful effort and will fight for the Chief and his family as long as I can. I am certain we will see a well written rebuttal from the new board soon, disputing every fact or opinion above.  

I would love to see some support for the Chief and his family from our awesome community.

Henry Zurbrugg
Director NFPD