Jerry Rhodes
Ira Jerome Rhodes (Jerry) Native of Colorado. Started in the fire service in 1974 at a small inter city municipal department surrounded by the City of Denver. Commercial, high-rise offices, multi-family residents, three single family homes, and thirty-nine liquor licenses in 1.71 sq kilometers. Residential population of 3,000 with a weekend evening population of 150,000. Colorado Paramedic of the Year in 1985. Worked up through the ranks and left at the rank of assistant chief.
Currently working for the Cunningham Fire Protection District, located in southeast metro Denver. Cunningham has four fire stations, 77 outstanding employees, providing code enforcement, public education, fire suppression, and EMS transport to a population of 67,000, covering 37.6 sq kilometers. Appointed Fire Chief in 1995. The District is home to both the largest Jewish Education Center and the largest Islamic Center in Colorado.
Current and past positions include Vice-Chair of the IAFC Emergency Management Committee, First Vice-President Missouri Valley Division of the IAFC, Colorado State Fire Chief's Executive Board, Chair of the State Emergency Medical Trauma Advisory Council, and two other Governor's Councils on incident management and hazardous materials responder certification. EMS Branch Director for the largest mass casualty incident in the United States NOT due to war or natural disaster. Plans Section for the largest wildland fire in Colorado's history.
Family and education are my passions. Community College and University Adjunct Instructor, primary subject areas are fire service, emergency medical services, and incident command. Seven generations of service.