Our History

The Mountain Communities Volunteer Fire Department (MCFVD) was officially established in 1985, however our story begins years before then. In the 1970s, a group of homeowners in Turkey Rock Ranch decided to be proactive about fire danger in and around their neighborhood.

April 1986: Turkey Rock volunteers outside on a dirt driveway the 1972 Chevy fire truck they purchased from Sheridan, Colorado.

  • Members of the Turkey Rock Rec. Association (TRRA; founded in 1971) continuously faced issues with containing fires in the area. At a TRRA Board meeting on August 1, 1977, members made a motion to approve the purchase of a 1935 Ford fire truck from Bust, Colorado. The availability of a fire truck would, "give needed firefighting assistance pending arrival of outside equipment." The Board passed the motion, but they did not have the $1,200 needed for the truck. Three individuals established loans to cover the cost, and the Board planned to train full-time residents to operate the truck and take emergency action in the event of a fire.

  • In March 1977, the TRRA newsletter announced plans to build a garage/workshop to house the fire truck and asked for volunteers to help with construction to keep costs down. The crew completed the foundation and walls by that fall, working to finish the rest of the build over the next three years. At the TRRA Annual Meeting on May 25, 1980, the building was named the Bus Oaks Firehouse after original Turkey Rock property owner Bus Oaks. Volunteers added a plaque and a sign in the building we now call Station 1.

    Gradual additions to the station included:
    • Concrete flooring
    • Insulation and sheetrock
    • Heater
    • Window coverings

    On September 4, 1982, the TRRA Board hosted a grand opening party at the firehouse. With construction complete, the station could house the fire truck in a heated environment so it was ready for year-round response. The Board also acquired a new, larger tank for the truck along with extra hose, ladders, and other necessary equipment.

  • The TRRA Board purchased a 1972 Chevy fire truck from Sheridan, Colorado for just under $6,200. They also bought a CB radio and a draft pump, and sold their previous fire truck (the 1935 Ford) as an antique. Prior to the purchase of the new truck, an insurance vendor began a review of fire, liability, and auto insurance policies that increased the amount of coverage on the firehouse. The Board determined that individual members could use the station and leave equipment outside as needed with prior approval.

  • On Memorial Day in 1984, two TRRA representatives attended a Teller County Emergency Preparedness Committee meeting and developed contacts with county officials. The representatives presented information on the emergency equipment and assistance at Turkey Rock. After the meeting, the Teller County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) issued a radio for the fire truck, and the TRRA Board purchased a truck antenna. Outgoing messages could be heard successfully, but responders still couldn’t hear replies from TCSO.

    In November of 1984, the fire truck got its first real test. A fire at the old ranch cabin in Lost Valley Ranch (just south of Turkey Rock) was fully engulfed in flames by the Turkey Rock volunteers arrived. The crew successfully deployed the truck to prevent the fire from spreading and doing more damage.

  • In 1985, a tax-supported district for fire protection was formed to cover Woodland Park and the surrounding area but excluded Turkey Rock. The TRRA Board considered petitioning to join the district, but they would still need to handle initial emergency response. As a result, residents formed the Turkey Rock Volunteer Fire Department (TRVFD) as an independent organization in 1985. Homeowners in Lost Valley, Wildhorn, and Westcreek also joined the department to help handle widespread emergency response more efficiently. The Turkey Rock Rec. Association still provided much of the financial support for the department, and the Woodland Park Fire Department encouraged TRVFD members to train with them.

    As the department and the district grew, the department eventually evolved to better represent its residents as the Mountain Communities Volunteer Fire Department.

  • In 1986, the county gave the TRRA Board an antenna for the firehouse. Residents installed the antenna and established the CB radio inside the station. They also installed a telephone at the adjacent, TRRA-owned A-frame and ran an extension from there to the firehouse. All of these combined efforts resulted in a functioning emergency communications system.

Make Your Mark

Throughout our history, residents and volunteers have fueled our growth and made our department what it is today. If you’d like to make your mark on MCVFD’s timeline, see how you can get involved!