Florence, CO, Vol. Fire Department Gets Cease and Desist Letter from District
The Florence Volunteer Fire Department is getting the boot and demands to stop responding from the district it requested to form in 1953.
The cease and desist letter came from an attorney representing the Florence Fire Protection District, says the volunteers can no longer use the fire station due to 'potential legal issues,' KOAA reported.
The Florence Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1890 and is one of the oldest in Colorado. Now, they've been directed to stop responding to calls and remove all of its equipment from the shared firehouse no later than Dec. 31.
District officials allege the volunteer department is misstating its affiliation by using the station's address and phone number in state filings.
Station One Fire Chief Bill Ritter said the district has dozens of volunteers who will continue to serve the area, but those in Florence will have to stop.
District officials wrote in a statement: "...Our communities agreed with this approach and voted to fund the Fire District to provide emergency medical services in November 2021.
Because the non-profit corporation has continued to make representations about their role in the District’s operations, the Board felt it had no choice but to formally require the non-profit corporation to vacate the Fire District’s facility and to request they stop engaging in activities or making statements that confuse our communities into thinking they are being ade by or carried out by the Fire District. As a Board, we believe in transparency with the communities we serve, and we could not in good conscience allow this situation to continue..."
