More than 50 firefighters, law enforcement officers, and community members gathered this morning at the Dannels Fire Station for the swearing in and pinning ceremony for Paul Capo who will serve as the new fire chief for the Estes Valley Fire Protection District. He has served as the interim chief since July 31 after the sudden resignation of Rick Lasky from the chief’s role.
Capo said he was overwhelmed by the turnout of support by fellow first responders and he got choked up in making remarks to the crowd. He recalled grade school and high school teachers who saw potential in him and a fire chief who encouraged him to get his first college degree. He recognized Larimer County Sherrif John Feyen and Estes Park Police Chief Ian Stewart and the many first responders who came to the ceremony.
He recalled some of the big events that have happened in the last seven years, including the Marys Lake Lodge fire, the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires, the rollovers, CPR events and gas leaks. He thanked his family and acknowledged the challenges they have had to deal with due to the demands of his job.
His wife, Kristie Capo, who works as a mental health counselor and co-responder with the Estes Park Police Department, pinned on Capo’s new badge and his son, Michael, pinned on insignias on Capo’s collar.
Capo was presented with a contract Tuesday evening by the EVFPD board. The base compensation set in the contract will be $165,000 payable in bi-weekly installments, less withholding for state and federal taxes, retirement contributions, insurance, and other applicable deductions.
In addition, he will receive standard employment benefits including retirement contributions, health care/dental benefits, vacation time, sick time, holidays, and professional development. He will also be provided with work uniforms and accessories as needed.
The EVFPD will provide Capo with a staff car for use within the scope of his employment during his tenure. He will have use of the vehicle for business and for regularly commuting to and from home and the workstation and at other times when he is subject to call back. The EFVPD allows the chief to use the vehicle for personal use so long as such it is within a reasonable response distance from the district, which is considered to be within 100 miles or less of the EVFPD area.
Effective during the first pay period in January 2025, Capo will be entitled to receive the same annual cost-of-living-adjustment increase to the base compensation applicable to all other employees of the District. He is also eligible for a 4% of base salary performance incentive merit bonus each year at the discretion of the EVFPD board of directors.
Capo has been a firefighter since 1996. He joined the EVFPD in 2017. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in public safety administration and a master’s degree in in biblical and theological studies. He is a registered paramedic with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and the founder of When Things Go Bad, Inc., a firefighter curricula and training program. He has developed the Estes Valley Fire Academy that provides training for exterior firefighters, interior firefighters, hazardous materials operations, and the state’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control Firefighter II. In 2022, Capo was recognized as the 2022 Colorado Fire Training Officer of the Year.