After 37 years as a firefighter and 22 years as a fire chief, John O’Hayre is stepping down.
Chief O’Hayre, who heads the North Metro Fire Rescue District, is retiring. His last day will be June 26, the fire district announced.
O’Hayre began his career as a volunteer firefighter in 1972, back when North Metro had just one on-duty firefighter at each of its stations.
Now the district covers about 63 square miles and serves a population of about 103,000 in three counties and two cities.
Under O’Hayre’s leadership — he became chief in August of 1987 — the district grew and secured equipment and personnel to better serve the public.
Among O’Hayre’s career accomplishments are:
During the opening of the training complex, O’Hayre told The Denver Post that firefighter safety is among his great concerns.
“We lose way too many firefighters each year,” O’Hayre said at the time. “The biggest thing is to teach them here to protect themselves and be able to go home at the end of a shift and not have to worry about losing someone.”
In 1996, O’Hayre received the Governor’s 3rd Annual Colorado Fire Service Leadership Award from Gov. Roy Romer. He is a past president of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs Association.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
