The Estes Valley Fire Protection District has announced the promotion of longtime volunteer and Estes Park native Justin Kearney to division chief of operations and training, marking both a leadership advancement and his transition to a full-time role with the district. With this promotion, Kearney will join the district’s senior leadership team.
Kearney, who began his service with the department in 2006, has been a volunteer firefighter and has held the rank of lieutenant. He was promoted to captain in 2017.
In addition to his fire service, Kearney has spent the past 16 years working for the Town of Estes Park as street department supervisor, where he oversaw budgeting, capital planning, personnel management, and daily operations.
The division chief of operations and training is central to the district’s operational readiness, training programs, and coordination with regional emergency partners.
In his new role, Kearney will oversee the day-to-day management of the district’s operations and training division, including supervising volunteer officers and firefighters, overseeing the full-time training and volunteer coordinator, and coordinating with auxiliary members.
Kearney will also serve as the district’s primary liaison with regional emergency response partners, including mutual-aid fire agencies, the Town of Estes Park Dispatch Center and Police Department, Larimer County Sheriff’s Emergency Services, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
Kearney grew up in Estes Park. His father, Mike Kearney, served as a volunteer firefighter. In addition to being a firefighter, Kearney is also an EMT. He is married and the father of two children.