Chief started out as a volunteer firefighter, then being promoted to Lieutenant/Training officer and then Assitant Chief (also volunteer) . When that current Chief left for another postion out of district, Tom   then served as the Volunteer Fire Chief until our Board of Directors decided to make him a full time, paid Chief. Originally from Michigan before coming to Colorado.  He holds the following certifications:

• Firefighter 1 & 2
• Hazmat Operations
• Hazmat Technician
• Fire Officer 1
• Fire Instructor 1
• Driver/Operator
• S130/190
• S131 (FFT1)
• S212 (Sawyer)
• S231 (Engine Boss)
• DFPC State Proctor
• Ice Rescue
• EMTB

Chief Baumgarten loves the fire service. The crew refers to him as "the working Chief". He leads by example from the front. He is also a ASE certified diesel mechanic as well as a certified Emergency Apparatus tech. His hobbies are motorcycle riding, camping, fishing and hiking the great outdoors. He is a husband, father of 2 sons and dog dad.