COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Colorado Springs Fire Chief Ted Collas will retire on March 5, 2021, the City announced today. Collas has served as chief since 2016 and joined the Colorado Springs Fire Department in 1985.
“Chief Ted Collas has honorably served the citizens of Colorado Springs for more than three decades, and highlights his career as an incredible leader of the CSFD,” said Mayor John Suthers. “He leaves the fire department in a strong position as a fully-accredited organization that is widely respected within the industry. The City will conduct a national search for a new leader to assume this vital role. We are also certain that we will have strong and well-qualified internal candidates in the mix. I want to thank Chief Collas for his leadership, his commitment and his love for our city and wish him much joy and grandchild time in his retirement.”
Collas will continue in his role until his retirement date next year.
“This career has been incredibly challenging, but equally rewarding," said Collas. "I grew up as a member of the Colorado Springs Fire Department, and had the honor of working alongside the most dedicated group of men and women all along the way.”
Chief Collas plans on spending time with his wife and family, and perhaps most especially, the new grandson who is expected early next month. When asked about his career, Collas said, “becoming a Colorado Springs firefighter is the best professional decision I could have ever made.” Collas also wanted to thank Mayor John Suthers for entrusting him with the leadership of the Colorado Springs Fire Department, where he has served as Fire Chief since March of 2016 when he became Interim Chief; he was appointed to the position of Fire Chief on August 15, 2016.
The City expects to post the position and begin the national search for a new Fire Chief in mid-November.