Latest news with #WestMetroFire


CBS News
07-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Colorado community mourns Castle Rock father and retired firefighter who died after scuba diving
A Castle Rock, Colorado, father of three and retired West Metro firefighter, died last week while vacationing with his family in Hilo, Hawaii. Greg Durocher Dean Wahl Hawaii Police say Greg Durocher became unresponsive after scuba diving. A coroner's inquest is underway to determine the cause of his death. His family will be returning to Colorado on Monday. From Castle Rock to Lakewood, loved ones are mourning and remembering the 51-year-old father, husband and friend. "Couldn't be a better human being," said Dean Wahl, retired West Metro fire captain. Pictures and memories are all Wahl has left of a man he fought fires with and called a friend. "Greg's the guy in the white T-shirt, and this was a four-man crew that was sent to Texas for the Space Shuttle Columbia recovery," Wahl said, while flipping through a West Metro Fire photo book from the years 2005 to 2015. A Boulder native, Greg Durocher worked under Wahl at West Metro Fire, where Wahl says Durocher was one of the first members of the bike medic team. "Very conscientious, usually didn't have to ask him to do anything because by the time you asked, it was already done. That's just the kind of guy that he was," Wahl said. "He was just a great person, so personable and gregarious and out with the public. He was the best guy to have there." Durocher met and married his wife, Amie, while working for West Metro Fire Rescue. "While we were working together, he met Amie, love of his life, head over heels," Wahl said. "The crew actually was able to plan his proposal. We all knew he was getting married before Amie knew." Wahl says Durocher planned an elaborate proposal at Zoo Lights. Greg Durocher and family Durocher family "He had a little thing on his clipboard and he clicked it, it said 'Amie, will you marry me,'" Wahl said. "That's the kind of guy he was, he liked to keep things fresh, really liked to make things exciting." After the couple were married in 2003, they welcomed three children: two sons and a daughter. "Nothing made his face light up more than going to events and being with his kids," Wahl said. Durocher eventually retired from the fire service and launched a car seat safety company with Amie called Safe Ride 4 Kids. Amie Durocher tells CBS Colorado the family moved from Washington Park to Castle Rock in 2021. In May, their daughter graduated from Castle View High School. With one child on the way to college and another heading to boot camp, Amie says the family took a "maybe-this-is-our-last-family-vacation" vacation. Sadly, the family didn't know how true that statement would be. While scuba diving in Hilo on June 30, tragedy struck. When Durocher reached the surface after scuba diving, Amie says he complained he couldn't breathe and lost consciousness. She says their son and the dive master pulled Durocher out and started chest compressions, but Hawaii Police say he was pronounced dead at a local hospital. While the police release said the family was taking a scuba diving lesson, Amie says it was not a lesson but a scheduled dive. She says Durocher was advanced open water certified and had more than 50 dives under his belt, and that the whole family had diving experience and certifications. "Absolutely terrible, terrible," Wahl said. "I can't even imagine the tragedy, and then to be that far away from the mainland." When Amie texted Wahl with the news, he was in shock. "Fifty-one years old is way too young," Wahl said. "I wake up every morning and I still can't believe. You know, this kid was fit." In the last week, Wahl says many former firefighters have reached out to him about Durocher's passing, expressing disbelief and sadness. As he mourns his friend, Wahl says there's one thing that stands out as Durocher's legacy. "How dedicated he was to his family. He was a great firefighter, but that was a career; the real dedication was to his family, to his wife, to his children," Wahl said. Durocher's tragic passing serves as a lesson to live like he did. "Don't wait, don't put off doing things you want to do with your life. Take advantage of being with your family. Kiss your wife and your kids before you leave for work," Wahl said. Amie Durocher says her husband was "a wonderful man and father and personal development coach (along with running Safe Ride 4 Kids, he taught and consulted for the Denver SBDC). He wasn't much for being in the spotlight. He was a Colorado native. He was born in Boulder. He worked for West Metro Fire for 13 years and volunteered at Eldorado Springs Fire (when that still existed) for five years before that." A spokesperson for West Metro Fire Protection District shared a statement about Durocher and his passing: "Greg was a firefighter with West Metro from 1998 to 2011. He served 13 years with us. Before that he was a volunteer firefighter for five years. He was a well-respected member of our staff, and had a passion for safety for children. He left the fire service to start his own business in car seat safety. You can see this on his LinkedIn profile. The name of the company is Safe Ride 4 Kids. He was an engineer when he left the fire service. Everyone here who knew Greg is saddened to hear of his passing. And our thoughts are with his family."
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
As tubers flock to Colorado rivers, rescue crews urge safety and awareness
DENVER (KDVR) — As the weather starts to heat up, many around the state look to cool off by floating down a river in a tube. While it can be a fun time, rescue crews encourage people to enjoy the water safely. Rockies set several more unwanted records on Saturday Lt. Doug Picone at West Metro Fire Rescue said during the summer months, his team responds to water rescue calls about two or three times a week, but also said they're a daily occurrence around the metro area as a whole. 'Each and every day it's getting more and more busy,' said Picone. 'Every time we go by the river, we see more and more people out.' As the weather continues to heat up and more people flock to rivers like Clear Creek in Golden, the chance for rescues grows. 'It's more and more dangerous as the weather gets nicer and we just have not hit that peak sunshine yet,' said Picone. The sunshine plays a big factor. While tubers took to a relatively slow-moving river on Saturday, it could look entirely different in a few weeks. 'We haven't had that increase in temperature to melt the snowmelt to bring the really rapid waters down,' he said. He encourages people to keep an eye on water speeds, which can change from safe to dangerous quickly. They underestimate the water's ability to swiftly take you away,' said Picone. He also stresses being aware of the water temperature, because it comes from snow melt, it's a near certainty that the water will be cold, and prolonged exposure can lead to his team being called. 'That water can definitely bring your body temperature down, create hypothermia,' said Picone. If you do go out, Picone said it's best to do it sober. 'Drugs and alcohol and water and tubing can be a very poor mix,' he said. 2 separate crashes occur in same vicinity of I-70 on Saturday afternoon No matter what time of the summer you decide to hit the river, your best practice is simply to be aware. 'Be prepared because it can overwhelm you,' he said. 'Know what you're getting into.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Lakewood property condemned after explosions, reported drug use, police calls
LAKEWOOD (KDVR) — A Lakewood property is in the process of being legally condemned after repeated complaints from neighbors and nearby students, including two fires reported within three days. The fires occurred at a converted garage near West 10th Avenue and Allison Street. Lakewood Police and West Metro Fire are investigating the incidents separately. A suspect has been identified but not arrested or charged in one fire. 14-year-old dies from injuries over a week after crash involving off-road motorcycle, car Lindsay Driver, who lives nearby, said the explosions were alarming and dangerous. 'The first explosion was absolutely massive. I was in my house and it shook my house,' Driver told FOX31. 'We're not born yesterday, we know what's going on there — and they are certainly not at Bible study.' Students at JeffCo Open School, located directly across the street, are also voicing concern. Senior Ethan Webb said the area has seen open drug use and other unsafe activity. 'The open drug use is really not okay,' Webb said. 'Especially around my school — like it's K-12. What if a kindergartner goes on a walk?' Photos obtained by FOX31 show drug paraphernalia, smoke damage, and ongoing activity around the structure. Police confirm the buildings have now been officially condemned, and an eviction hearing is scheduled for Friday. The case has reportedly been under investigation since October. Driver said neighbors have been raising red flags for months. Former Jeffco high school employee faces sex assault, drug charges 'If the city does nothing about what is going on with the crime population in Lakewood, the city is going to become a dump,' she said. 'No one will live here.' Lakewood police say the agency is working with Code Enforcement and Building Inspectors to monitor ongoing safety issues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Neighbors in Morrison work along firefighters for National Wildfire Preparedness Day
MORRISON, Colo. (KDVR) — On Saturday afternoon, neighbors from four different neighborhoods in Morrison met at KingFisher Lake Park to receive their new Firewise signs. The four neighborhoods that are recognized within the Willow Springs community are Whale Rock, Sundance, Willow Springs North and Triangle Park. 'The effort to become Firewise took on new urgency after the Marshall Fire in 2021 in Boulder County, and two fires closer to home- the Snow Creek Fire in July 2022 and the Quarry Fire in 2024,' stated Ronda Scholting, the Public Information Officer with West Metro Fire. Those areas were recognized as Firewise USA sites by the National Fire Protection Association. What that means for the neighbors in the area is that they have worked hard and been proactive in reducing wildfire risk. Denver's best Mexican restaurants to try for Cinco De Mayo, according to Yelp The other thing neighbors are being recognized for is their strength in the community, coming together to make sure the neighborhood is as prepped as possible to reduce wildfire risk and protecting the homes in the area. 'Concerned about the risk of fire in the wildland/urban interface, many residents came together to take action, leading to the creation of local Firewise committees and a focus on community-wide wildfire preparedness,' Scholting said. Those signs will be posted in the areas. Firefighters with West Metro Fire will also be at the presentation of the signs. Wildfire season is all year long here in Colorado. Many counties across the state issue Red Flag Warning Days, so it's important to follow the area you live in. Here is more information about Red Flag Warning Days in Jefferson County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.