CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER: Mayor Hancock Appoints Desmond Fulton to lead the Denver Fire Department

By Press release submission

Oct 16, 2020

City and County of Denver issued the following announcement on Oct. 8.

Mayor Michael B. Hancock today named Desmond Fulton as the next Chief of the Denver Fire Department (DFD). Fulton, a 22-year veteran of the department, will lead the over 1,000 firefighter personnel supporting the daily firefighting and rescue operations the residents of Denver depend on.

“The job of a Denver fire fighter is one of the most critical public safety jobs in our city. Residents count on them to help in their moment of need, and they deserve a leader who has earned the trust of his peers in this often times dangerous service,” Mayor Hancock said. “Deputy Chief Fulton knows this department and has served alongside men and women up and down the ranks, and he is committed to making Denver’s fire department the best, most inclusive it can be. I have the utmost confidence Desmond Fulton will continue to lead the Denver Fire Department in the direction in needs to go.”

As Chief of the department, Fulton will oversee the services provided to the residents who live, work and visit the city for fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, water and high angle rescue. The department currently operates 39 fully staffed firehouses responding to fire and emergency calls within Denver, as well as the cities of Glendale, Sheridan and Englewood and the Skyline Fire District.

Fulton currently serves as Deputy Fire Chief for the Denver Fire Department managing the daily operations of the department, including staff firehouse companies, contract management, joint budget oversight, department policies and mission, and safety and well-being of firefighters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has served as Incident Plan Commander for DFD and liaison for the department’s response. He also serves as Denver Fire representative to the city’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Team, as well as on the Mayor’s Office of Equity Reconciliation Task Force Team focused on tackling the public health crisis of racism.

“I’m honored to be selected by Mayor Hancock for this important position, and even more honored to have the opportunity to lead the department I’ve spent my career with, and to serve alongside the men and women of this department who show up to serve every single day to protect the people of this great city,” Fulton said. “I have grown from a skills-based firefighter with a passion for strategy and tactics, to a leader with a passion for serving and protecting our residents and those very same firefighters. I recognize the importance of social equity and will work to ensure our department is as diverse and inclusive as the residents and communities we serve.”

Fulton joined the Denver Fire Department in 1998, where he rose through the ranks from Firefighter Technician to the only active member of the Denver Fire Department to run two Divisions as a Division Chief, and currently Deputy Chief. Throughout his career with the DFD, he has created the DFD Mentorship Program, guaranteeing highly coveted testing positions to people of color and women; organized the development of many new department policies, including a progressive maternity policy that respects the needs of our women firefighters throughout maternity; developed cutting-edge hazmat awareness and training practices, including a collaborative training program with numerous federal agencies such as the FBI and ATF; helped develop and implement new wellness initiatives and programs with a focus on physical and behavioral wellness that resulted in more healthy and fit firefighters; and, in response to the unfortunate prevalence of cancer illness and deaths in the fire service, I lead the development of the nation’s first Cancer Resource Guidebook, which has proven instrumental in helping affected members and their families cope with serious illness.

Fulton’s appointment as fire chief is effective Oct. 12.

The Fire Chief Selection Committee, composed of city council members, safety officials and community leaders to ensure the residents of Denver were represented in this process, was chaired by Executive Director of Public Safety, Murphy Robinson and included: