CMAFS fire department partners with community Published Oct. 26, 2016 CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN AIR FORCE STATION, Colo. -- Cheyenne Mountain Fire and Emergency Services has a long history supporting the Front Range as a leader in the regional wildfire community. Geographically speaking, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station is 567 acres in size, located in the midst of a true urban interface environment and borders a wide variety of jurisdictions. CMFES has established mutual aid agreements with the Colorado Springs Fire Department, El Paso County and the Cheyenne Mountain State Park. Acknowledging the region’s heightened and complex wildfire threat, the newly created USAF Mid-west Regional Wildland Fire Center has designated CMAFS as one of the highest at-risk locations in the Air Force. The WFC mission is to assist military bases with wildfire mitigation plans and to provide training, fuel thinning and firefighting resources. In August, the WFC selected CMAFS as its Midwest Regional Headquarters location. This resulted in a successful integration of training and operational resources. The organizations have jointly responded to three wildfires this fire season and commitments are in place to strengthen regional capabilities through joint training plans via coordinated firefighting resources. The Cheyenne Mountain Emergency Communications Center is being upgraded to optimize combined operations of both Fire Emergency Services and Security Forces at CMAFS. Additionally, the collective 21st Space Wing efforts have enabled progress towards a Front Range Regional Fire Emergency Dispatch Center to capitalize on efficiencies and enhanced response capabilities. CMAFS has been approved to be the primary dispatch center, supporting CMAFS, Peterson Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force Academy, with Schriever AFB as the alternate location. The goal is to gain efficiencies, reinvest dispatcher positions and reduce or eliminate manpower shortfalls. Moreover, the Headquarters Air Force Space Command has funded a tech-solution and feasibility study to facilitate emergency dispatching services for Schriever AFB and Buckley AFB. A construction project to remodel Fire Station 2 at CMAFS will incorporate four new stalls for emergency apparatus, network upgrades and increased manpower and vehicle facilities. The project also includes conversion of the old vehicle bays, additional office and functional space and remodeled portions of the currently used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, living and fitness spaces. The completion of the work is scheduled for spring 2017 and will bring the facility into compliance with the National Unified Facility Code 4-730-10 standards for Fire Station Facility Construction. The facility will also host the new Air Force Regional WFC. Together, these focused efforts enable CMAFS to provide enhanced wildland, structural and emergency firefighting response capabilities to the base and surrounding communities. CMFES is continuously planning and upgrading our organizational structure and facilities to ensure the Front Range Regional military and community strategic partners continue to receive premier wildland, structural and emergency response support from the CMAFS and the 21 SW.