Members of a committee to recall all five board members of the Los Pinos Fire Protection District have held four public meetings in Ignacio and Arboles in the past week to tell residents about their concerns and asking them to sign recall petitions.

Members of the recall committee are Kevin and Melissa Ratzmann, Bernie Cuthair, Craig Fisher, Tyrun Harris, Kathy Kent, Mike Olguin, Ellie Seibel, Kathy and Rene St. Germain, and Seth St. Germain. In addition to recalling the current five board members, they would like to see the board expand to have seven members. Ideally, new board members would include women and Southern Ute Tribal members, who haven't served on the board in the past, even though Kevin Ratzmann said about 51 percent of the department's calls are made to tribal lands.

"We need more representation" of the community, said Kathy St. Germain, a recall board member who attended a public meeting Tuesday night at the Ignacio Community Library. "We'd like to encourage more people to get involved."

Ratzmann is the district's former deputy chief. He was fired on Nov. 19 and is filing a lawsuit against the district, claiming wrongful termination and retaliation for presenting concerns about Chief Tom Aurnhammer to the board. Aurnhammer is currently on vacation and will retire at the end of the year. Former chief Larry Behrens is returning to the department to serve as interim volunteer chief.

Ratzmann and other employees said the recall isn't just about his being fired, but the safety and future of the district. Two Los Pinos staff members who attended recall committee meetings this week said the board isn't looking out for the interests of department employees. Of the department's 30 employees, they said 28 signed a letter supporting Ratzmann and asking him to be retained as deputy chief. They asked not to be identified to avoid retaliation from the board.

"We're still doing our job," one firefighter said, but added that several are looking to find jobs in other districts.

Another firefighter said employees were told not to attend meetings of the district's board of directors, and not to discuss any departmental concerns with board members, either.

Los Pinos employees serve the people of the district, not the board of directors, one of the firefighters added. They also have concerns about going on calls without having a supervisor to oversee the scene and make sure employees are safe.

Ratzmann said the department plans to return a $120,000 state grant he had obtained for emergency systems, including an ambulance. "This is equipment we desperately need," one of the firefighters said.