Westminster Fire Department (WFD) Chief Doug Hall informed City Council on Monday that he will be retiring July 3, 2022, after 43 years of service and as Chief for the past 10 years. Under Hall’s leadership, WFD was given an ISO Class 1 rating, the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s (CPSE) highest accreditation. Less than 300 agencies have received an ISO Class 1 accreditation nationally. In addition to overseeing the technology modernization of the department including partnering with the Westminster Police Department to upgrade public safety telecommunications systems, Hall also developed new career pathways for future firefighters through a multi-agency firefighter academy and officer development program. 

Hall is a leader in the Colorado firefighting community. He served as President of the Board of Directors for the Adams and Jefferson County Hazardous Materials Response Authority from 2019-21 and represents Colorado municipalities as a member of the Colorado Fire Commission. Hall is also an active member of the Westminster community and has been a member of the Westminster Rotary Club for 13 years.  

“The opportunity to lead the finest fire department in the nation was a job of a lifetime, but it is not meant to be a job for a lifetime. I am honored and proud to serve the community that I have called home for over four decades,” said Chief Doug Hall. “I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and my grandchildren.”  

Since Hall began his career in 1978, Westminster has grown from approximately 50,000 to 116,000 residents according to the 2020 census. The Fire Department has also subsequently grown to meet the needs of the city. In 1978, the City had 18 firefighters, and an administrative assistant, and only one of its three fire stations was staffed. WFD now has 143 employees, with 123 serving in an emergency response capacity from six staffed fire stations. 

“It is an incredible loss of knowledge and institutional memory for the department and for our city. I wish Chief Hall all the best and thank him for his significant contributions to our community. Chief Hall’s legacy is a department of dedicated, talented professionals who serve Westminster to the highest standards in the nation. I am grateful to Chief Hall for continuing to lead this department while we begin the process to select Westminster’s next fire chief,” said Interim City Manager Jody Andrews. 

The City will begin a transition plan for a new chief.