A group of homeowners, farmers, and business owners banded together to protect the property outside the city limits of Boulder when there was no staffing for the Boulder County fire truck. Boulder Rural and Suburban Volunteer Fire Department was founded December 1957. Their first call was in February 1958. In their first eight months they ran 47 calls, averaging 15 responders to every call.

 The original budget for the department was $6038 raised from donations, fundraisers, and memberships. The department spent $3465 on its original fire station on the southeast corner of Iris and 28th streets. The personal protective equipment consisted of helmets and four raincoats.

 During the 60’s and 70’s, the number of homes and people the department protected continued to grow with the construction of Gunbarrel and the Heatherwood subdivision. In order to provide a more consistent service, a new funding mechanism needed to be found.

 In the mid-80s the introduction of the Special District Laws allowed the department to change to a fire protection district, raising money through taxes rather than depending upon donations. The neighboring agencies became districts first, taking large areas of Boulder Rural in the process. Additionally the city annexed county properties as it grew to the north. This left Boulder Rural with an inverted T-shaped district, and service islands in the city and Sunshine Canyon.

 In 1988 the district moved into its second station, at Jay Road and 51st St. This remodeled agricultural building served as our main station and headquarters until 2011. In 2011, the district completed its new main station at 63rd St. and Lookout Road.

 Starting from those humble beginnings we have evolved into a department that serves 17,000 people and 7000 residences. We have nine apparatus in two fire stations. We run just under 800 calls per year, responding to EMS, fire, hazardous materials, wildland fire, and rescue calls. Since 1992 we have trained 364 members. Many have moved on to professional careers with other fire and EMS agencies.