Impact to Emergency Services

Understanding the factors contributing to increasing costs

Group portrait of 18 Evergreen Fire Rescue personnel in uniform posing in front of a red fire rescue vehicle.

Without new revenue, emergency services and response will begin to be impacted by 2027.

With new revenue, the following critical operational and safety areas would be funded:

Paid firefighter and paramedic staff
Volunteer recruitment
Wildfire protection and mitigation
Community education
Emergency response capability

Increasing Costs

The cost of emergency equipment and apparatus continues to increase. For example, five years ago, a new engine cost $650,000, today, the cost is estimated at $1.4 million and personal protective equipment, medical supplies and more have all increased 55% over the past ten years.

Here’s a comparison of the increased costs for emergency vehicles that reach the end of their useful life and must be replaced.

Cost comparison of emergency vehicles showing increase from 2004 to 2025: Engine from $355,000 to $1,400,000 (294%), Brush Truck from $80,000 to $350,000 (337.5%), Ambulance from $146,814 to $360,000 (145%), with total cost rising from $581,814 to $2,110,000, a 263% increase.

Here is a comparison of medical equipment and supplies, many of which are used nearly every day.

Bar chart comparing costs of medical equipment and supplies from 2019/2020 to 2025/2026, showing increases: heart monitor from $12,800 to $54,000 (350%), medical supplies from $36,500 to $55,500 (62%), laryngoscope from $2,400 to $3,400 (42%), and defibrillator from $1,339 to $1,529 (14%), with a total cost increase of 119% from $52,239 to $114,429.

Here is a cost comparison of the protective equipment essential for our firefighters to safely and effectively do their job.

Bar chart comparing protective equipment costs from 2019/2020 to 2025/2026 showing increases: FF Shelter from $380 to $595 (57%), FF Pants from $960 to $1,784 (86%), FF Jacket from $1,270 to $2,130 (68%), SCBA Mask from $380 to $450 (29%), and FF Boots from $404 to $684 (69%); total increase 70%, total cost rising from $4,034 to $6,877.

About us

Since its founding in 1948, Evergreen’s volunteer fire department has evolved from an organization of men dedicated to extinguishing fires to a cadre of men and women who respond to emergencies ranging from structure fires to drownings, and crashes to wildfires. Home to one of the largest volunteer fire departments in Colorado, Evergreen Fire/Rescue offers non-emergency services to its community as well, including CPR courses, residential risk reduction education, participation in community events and station tours.

Our team consists of volunteers and paid staff providing around the clock emergency medical, rescue, and fire suppression services along with fire inspection and education to nearly 26,000 residents across more than 120 square miles.