What is the Aspen Fire Protection District?
A special district is a quasi-municipal corporation that exists solely to provide specific types of services. By law, a fire special-district must be responsible for all fire emergencies occurring within its boundaries, and may provide rescue and emergency medical services, but not necessarily. The fire district has the power to adopt and enforce fire codes, usually in concert with local government. Unlike a municipal or county fire department, a fire protection district is independently governed by an elected board of resident, citizen directors. An incorporated fire district is funded by ad valorem property taxes, voted for and paid by the residents living within the service area. There are about 3000 fire districts nationwide.
In 1953, members of the Aspen Volunteer Fire Department spearheaded an election campaign to incorporate such a special district to provide fire protection. Today, the Aspen Fire Protection District is comprised of 87 square miles of the Roaring Fork valley, extending North from Difficult Campground to
