Black Forest Fire Department Hires PR Firm

The board of directors for the Black Forest Fire-Rescue District has hired a public relations firm to handle a dispute with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office over response to a deadly fire last June.

Records obtained by KRDO-TV show Webb Strategic Communications has been paid nearly $6,000 so far.

The board has launched an independent investigation into a dispute with El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa about the response to the Black Forest Fire. Fire Chief Bob Harvey and the board have remained silent since the investigation began.

The dispute began when Harvey said the fire was intentionally set. Maketa said he is investigating and he questioned how well Harvey managed the fire.

The fire killed two people and destroyed 486 houses.