Bob Harvey is the new Black Forest fire chief. He brings almost 40 years of firefighting related experience to the position. After retiring from the Colorado Springs Fire Department as a captain, Harvey started his own consulting firm and worked with railroads and other disaster response programs. He was also the fire chief in Leadville, Colo., for one year.This job brings him closer to his home in Monument, Colo. ìI actually come from this area,î Harvey said. ìI used to help train this department 20 years ago, when really they were just a volunteer department.î He said the retiring Black Forest chief, Dave Ury, has been helpful, offering advice on the area and getting him in touch with key personnel. Harvey said he doesnít plan to change much at the station, and will continue to keep the community engaged. ìI like that about Black Forest, itís a very close-knit community,î he said.The fire districtís history is important to Harvey, too. ìWe have the oldest medical transport service in the entire state of Colorado,î he said.This year, the station will host a fire wise awareness course available to the public as well as some of the smaller fire stations. The program includes helping homeowners establish their own emergency plans. Volunteer firefighters will visit the home at no cost and make recommendations on how to improve fire safety issues inside and out. ìOver 200 were done last summer; all done by volunteer firefighters,î Harvey said. A big plus as the fire chief is the professionalism and dedication of the volunteer force, which he credits Ury with developing. Harvey said he will maintain the high quality of the volunteer team.
