As the community knows, the Elk Creek Fire Protection District has been
working toward a merger
with our neighboring districts, North Fork and Inter-Canyon, to improve efficiency and strengthen emergency response across the Conifer area. While North Fork and Inter-Canyon successfully completed their merger to form Conifer Fire, Elk Creek’s progress was halted by ongoing litigation filed by two individuals – current board member Chuck Newby and community member Neil Whitehead III – who appealed the Elk Creek Board’s approval of the merger.
Although the District initially prevailed at the County level, the appeal now pending in District Court has resulted in substantial delays and escalating legal costs. After careful consideration, the Board has determined that it is not in the best interest of our taxpayers or our mission to continue spending public funds on prolonged litigation.
Accordingly, the District has made the difficult but responsible decision to withdraw its merger approval and end the litigation. This decision reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility and to refocusing our energy on serving the community, supporting our firefighters, and advancing the cooperative progress this merger was meant to achieve, rather than continuing to divert public resources into prolonged litigation.
Importantly, this is not the end of the strategic partnership between Elk Creek and what is now Conifer Fire. Elk Creek Fire will continue to work closely with Conifer Fire to pursue cost efficiencies, strengthen emergency response, and plan strategically for the future of the Conifer area.
We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and delivering the high-quality service our residents deserve. We are grateful for the community’s continued support and understanding as we navigate these important issues and move forward together.
