FIRE DEPARTMENT

Denver City Charter subtit. B, art. IX, pt. 5

in effect

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.1 Chief of the Fire Department appointed by Mayor; reversion to prior rank upon removal.

§ 9.5.1 - Chief of the Fire Department appointed by Mayor; reversion to prior rank upon removal. The Chief of the Fire Department shall either be appointed from within or from outside the Classified Service of the Denver Fire Department by the Mayor and shall hold such position so long as his or her services are satisfactory to the Mayor. If the Chief is appointed from within the Classified Service of the Denver Fire Department, only members of the department holding the rank of Captain or any higher rank shall be eligible for appointment. If the Chief is appointed from outside the Classified Service of the Denver Fire Department, the appointee shall be a professional firefighter with a minimum of seven years command experience in a like-sized or larger urban fire department. In the event that the appointment is made from within the Classified Service of the Denver Fire Department and the Mayor removes such appointee, he or she shall revert to his or her previous rank, unless he or she is eligible for retirement when so removed, in which event he or she shall be entitled to retire as Chief of the Fire Department. The salary, fringe benefits, and other compensation of this position shall be established by ordinance. (Charter 1960, C5.45-6; Added May 19, 1987; Ord. No. 138-03, § 1, 2-24-03, elec. 5-6-03; Ord. No. 408-13, § 2, 8-26-13, elec. 11-5-13)

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.2 Deputy Chief and Division Chiefs.

§ 9.5.2 - Deputy Chief and Division Chiefs. The Chief of the Fire Department may from time to time, with the approval of the Manager of Safety, assign members of the Classified Service of the Denver Fire Department of the rank of Assistant Chief to perform the duties of Deputy Chief and members of the Classified Service of the Denver Fire Department of the rank of Assistant Chief to perform the duties of Division Chief, each of whom shall perform such duties so long as his or her services are satisfactory to the Chief and the latter shall see fit to continue such assignment. The total number of command assignments permitted by this section at any one time shall not exceed seven (7). The pay rates and fringe benefits for those members assigned the duties of Deputy Chief or Division Chief shall be established by ordinance. The Chief of the Fire Department shall appoint a Deputy Chief or, if a Deputy Chief is unavailable, a Division Chief to serve as Acting Chief in the Chief's temporary absence. (Charter 1960, C5.45-4; added May 19, 1987; amended June 13, 1994; Ord. No. 138-03, § 1, 2-24-03, elec. 5-6-03; Ord. No. 408-13, § 2, 8-26-13, elec. 11-5-13)

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.3 Reserved.

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.4 Ranks and Grades in the Fire Department.

§ 9.5.4 - Ranks and Grades in the Fire Department. (A) The Classified Service of the Fire Department shall only consist of the following ranks and grades: (i) Rank: Assistant Chief, Master Mechanic, Superintendent of Fire Alarm, Assistant Superintendent of Fire Alarm, Assistant Master Mechanic, Captain, Fire Systems Technical Specialist, Mechanic, Lieutenant, Engineer, Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician. (ii) Grades of Firefighter: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade. (iii) Grades of Fire Systems Technical Specialist and Mechanic: I, II, III, IV, V. (B) The Chief of the Fire Department may from time to time assign Firefighters 1st grade to perform the duties of Technician, each of whom shall perform such duties so long as the individual's services are satisfactory to the Chief of the Fire Department and the Chief shall see fit to continue such assignment. (C) The Chief of the Fire Department may from time to time assign Assistant Chiefs to perform the duties of Shift Commander, each of whom shall perform such duties so long as the individual's services are satisfactory to the Chief of the Fire Department and the Chief shall see fit to continue such assignment. (D) The duties of the rank of Engineer shall include driving and operating any vehicle other than an automobile in the fire suppression activity, and only Engineers shall be permanently assigned to perform these duties. (Charter 1960, C5.45; C5.45-3, C5.45-5, C5.45-7, C5.45-8; amended May 19, 1987; amended November 2, 1993. Subsection (D), added June 3, 1958. Subsection (E), added March 10, 1970; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 138-03, § 1, 2-24-03, elec. 5-6-03; Ord. No. 781-19, § 1, 8-26-19, elec. 11-5-19)

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.5 Rank and grade upon original appointment and thereafter.

§ 9.5.5 - Rank and grade upon original appointment and thereafter. A. A member of the Fire Department shall be a Firefighter 4th Grade from the date of original appointment and until such time as the member has served nine months after completion of the Fire Academy. A member of the Fire Department shall be a Firefighter 3rd Grade if that member has served for more than nine-months after completion of the Fire Academy and less than twenty-one months after the completion of the Fire Academy. A member of the Fire Department shall be a Firefighter 2nd Grade if that member has served for twenty-one months or more after completion of the Fire Academy and less than thirty-three months after the completion of the Fire Academy. A member of the Fire Department shall be a Firefighter 1st Grade if that member has served for thirty-three months or more after completion of the Fire Academy. B. Applicants who are employed pursuant to a duly approved intergovernmental agreement, as provided in § 9.3.11(E.)(iii), may be appointed to any rank in the Denver Fire Department, but not higher than the rank of Firefighter 1st Grade. C. Applicants who are employed under the terms of Section 9.3.11(E)(i) shall be appointed to Firefighter 4th Grade until such time as that member has successfully completed the Fire Academy, at which time the Manager of Safety, at his or her discretion, may continue the appointment of the member as a Firefighter 4th Grade or may appoint the member based upon merit, experience, or record to: (i) The rank of Firefighter 3rd Grade, if that member has less than five years of prior experience; (ii) The rank of Firefighter 2nd Grade, if that member has more than five years of prior experience but less than eight years of prior experience; or (iii) The rank of Firefighter 1st Grade, if that member has eight or more years of prior experience. If the member serves as a Firefighter 3rd Grade or a Firefighter 2nd Grade, the member shall serve a full year at such grade before advancement to the next grade. The member retained or appointed to a grade as described herein shall have no right to seek review of that decision before the Civil Service Commission, Chief of the Fire Department, or the Manager of Safety. Appointments made pursuant to this Section shall be considered original appointments and shall require completion of a full nine-month probationary period after having successfully completed the Fire Academy. (Charter 1960, C5.47; amended June 3, 1958; amended June 5, 1962; amended September 8, 1964; amended November 2, 1993; amended September 6, 1994; Ord. No. 138-03, § 1, 2-24-03, elec. 5-6-03; Ord. No. 106-05, § 1, elec. 5-3-05; Ord. No. 408-13, § 2, 8-26-13, elec. 11-5-13)

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.6 Reserved.

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.7 Injuries incurred or sickness contracted in the performance of official duties.

§ 9.5.7 - Injuries incurred or sickness contracted in the performance of official duties. Any member of the Denver Fire Department who shall become injured by reason of the performance of his or her official duties or who shall contract any sickness attributable to his or her occupation by reason of the performance of his or her official duties shall be entitled to the following, subject to the approval of the Chief of the Fire Department and the proper examining physician: (A) He or she shall be provided, when necessary, with hospitalization, doctors, surgeons, nurses and medical care. (B) Any intermittent or consecutive leave of absence not to exceed one calendar year at his or her full salary and benefits so long as the leave is necessary in reaching recovery from the injury or sickness for the rank that the member holds in the department. (C) Should such member need additional leave of absence in excess of one year he or she may use his or her accumulated sick leave at full pay. (Charter 1960, C5.33; amended November 7, 1950; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 138-03, § 1, 2-24-03, elec. 5-6-03)

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.8 Injuries incurred or sickness contracted otherwise than in the performance of official duties.

§ 9.5.8 - Injuries incurred or sickness contracted otherwise than in the performance of official duties. Any member of the Denver Fire Department who shall become injured or contract sickness otherwise than in the performance of his or her official duties shall be entitled to the following: He or she shall receive full pay from the department payroll for the rank he or she holds in the department for such time as he or she may have accumulated for sick leave. (Charter 1960, C5.34, C5.34-1; amended November 7, 1950; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 138-03, § 1, 2-24-03, elec. 5-6-03)

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.9 Reserved.

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.10 Payment of salary and benefits upon death.

§ 9.5.10 - Payment of salary and benefits upon death. Upon the death of a member of the Classified Service of the Denver Fire Department, all money due such member by reason of unpaid salary, accumulated unused vacation time, sick leave reserve, or from other sources at the time of death shall be paid to the Fire Fighter's estate. (Charter 1960, C5.32-5; amended November 7, 1950; amended August 11, 1992)

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.11 Reserved.

Denver City Charter, art. IX, § 9.5.12 Firefighter pensions.

§ 9.5.12 - Firefighter pensions. Firefighter pensions shall be governed by applicable provisions of the Colorado Revised Statutes. (Charter 1960, C5.36; Charter 1904, § 242; amended September 6, 1994; Ord. No. 138-03, § 1, 2-24-03, elec. 5-6-03)

Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIHORU_SUBTITLE_BCH_ARTIXEM_PT5FIDEFetched: 10/27/2026