AVON, Colorado - Charlie Moore, general manager and fire chief of Eagle River Fire Protection District, says he will resign from his position effective Dec. 31. The district's board accepted Moore's decision and has moved to install Karl Bauer, the district's assistant chief, as acting chief.
"My departure allows the board more flexibility in making tough decisions in the months ahead," said Moore, who has been in a chief's role since 1988.
Moore said he is interested in other leadership positions with departments in Colorado, and will pursue those options.
Moore said his decision has nothing to do with the district's ballot question seeking a temporary mill levy, and that regardless of the election outcome, the district will face difficult staffing decisions as it considers its budget picture.
"We have to acknowledge that Charlie has taken this department from a volunteer fire agency to a highly regarded professional organization with excellent capabilities," said District Board chairman Ed O'Brien. "We believe this is a significant step for Charlie and Eagle River Fire."
Moore has been with Eagle River Fire Protection District and its predecessor agencies since 1979. The district was formed in 2000 with the merger of a number of metropolitan districts and municipal fire departments and has grown to five operational fire stations staffed around the clock with 68 firefighters.-
"I discussed with the board that there is now a diminished need for administrative leadership and a greater need for operations management," Moore said. "This will allow others in the organization to move up and the board to take on additional policy decisions."
Under Moore's leadership, the district has improved its resident firefighter program, obtained a federal SAFER grant to add nine full-time firefighters, and has applied for accreditation for the fire district. Moore, who came to the Vail Valley after completing his degree in architecture, worked concurrently in both professions until becoming fire chief for the town of Avon in 1988.
"My wife and I have been contemplating a change in location, and the end of the year seems like a good time to do that," Moore said.
He will be involved with the board in helping with the transition to a new chief.
The Eagle River Fire Protection District includes the area from Tennessee Pass to Wolcott and serves an area of 186 square miles which include the communities of Avon, Arrowhead, Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Cordillera, Eagle-Vail, Edwards, Minturn, Red Cliff, Singletree and Wolcott.
