By Shannon Lukens.
Three Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue members have been promoted to lieutenants. Dave Hesselton, Tony DeRisio, and Devin Borvanksy join the officer ranks and leadership team. The three have more than 50 years of combined fire and emergency services experience.
Here’s more from the City of Steamboat Springs; March 15, 2023.
Silver Bugles Presented to Three New Fire Rescue Lieutenants
Hesselton, DeRisio & Borvansky Promoted to Officer Rank
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-March 15, 2023-A silver bugle now adorns the collars of three newly promoted lieutenants with Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue (SSFR) as Dave Hesselton, Tony DeRisio, and Devin Borvansky join the officer ranks and leadership team.
“Our community and the department are fortunate to have an extremely talented and skilled group of firefighters who are ready to step up and serve in leadership roles,” said Fire Chief Chuck Cerasoli. “I’m proud and excited for Dave, Tony and Devin as they start their new role with the department and know our community will benefit from their expertise, dedication and leadership.”
Currently, the SSFR officer staff is comprised of the Chief, Deputy Chief, three Captains and a training Lieutenant. The three new officers will be assigned to one of the three shifts and will serve under the shift captain. In their new roles, the fresh lieutenants will be responsible for both non-emergency and emergency situations, staff supervision, departmental policies, technical expertise, hazardous materials compliance, appropriations and budget, training, and evaluations. SSFR’s new lieutenants are:
Lt. Dave Hesselton
Growing up in South Florida, Hesselton moved to the Colorado mountains in 1994 while working towards obtaining his commercial pilot’s license and a dream of becoming an Alaskan bush pilot. He quickly realized that Steamboat Springs was home and focused on a new dream, becoming a paramedic. Working as a stone mason for several years alongside ski patrollers and firefighters, Hesselton earned his EMT certification and joined Routt County Search & Rescue in 2000. Two years later, a part-time position opened and by 2005, he was working full-time for SSFR. Hesselton was able to link his passion for flying with his emergency medical career serving as a certified flight paramedic with Classic Air Medical for two years. Outside of the station, he enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, paddleboarding, river rafting, fishing, and all things outdoors with his girlfriend, who is an ER nurse.
Lt. Tony DeRisio
DeRisio first started with SSFR in 2006 as a paid-per-call member before moving to the full-time ranks in 2008. He became a Paramedic in 2015, and since then has earned an associate degree in paramedicine, and a bachelor’s degree in emergency services administration. DeRisio has an extensive background in building construction and technical troubleshooting which he utilizes on a daily basis in his job. When not serving the community, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two young boys adventuring throughout Routt County.
Lt. Devin Borvansky
Born and raised in Steamboat Springs, Borvansky graduated from Steamboat Springs High School in 2004. While taking fire science courses at Aims Community College, he worked as a volunteer firefighter/EMT at Platte Valley Fire and as a first responder on the ambulance service in Fort Morgan. In 2008, Borvansky was offered his dream job with SSFR, allowing him to return home to the community he loves. Most recently, he held the position of Firefighter/Engineer for the past eight years. When Devin is not on call, he enjoys spending time with his family and playing hockey.
With more than 50 years of combined fire and emergency services experience, Hesselton, DeRisio and Borvansky will assume their new leadership roles later this month.
“The new promotions and expanded staff structure ensures excellent supervision over a second engine crew that will come online in the fall of 2023 and that SSFR continues to work toward improving emergency service levels,” continued Chief Cerasoli. “Our community is constantly evolving and so must our services to meet those changing demands.”
Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue serves the City of Steamboat Springs and the surrounding Steamboat Springs Area Fire Protection District by reducing human suffering and property loss, protecting the environment, and promoting life safety through incident response, wildland fire and mitigation services, public education, and fire prevention programs.
The department provides emergency services within the district. Staffed by three shifts, which provide emergency coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the combined fire district is approximately 385 square miles including the 10 square miles that make up the city.
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