On Wednesday, August 27, a powerful moment took place on top of the South Metro Fire Rescue Training Tower. Two members of Academy 25-2, Recruits Matthew Flores and Zach Brown, raised their right hands and reenlisted in the Air Force National Guard. Recruit Flores recommitted to the New York National Guard and Recruit Brown to the Wyoming National Guard, with their oath delivered by fellow recruit John Theulen, who also serves as a Captain in the Air Force. Holding this ceremony on the tower was

On Sunday, August 24, 2025, at 3:43 p.m., South Metro Fire Rescue and Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a hiker who had fallen approximately 20–30 feet over a ledge in Daniels Park, near the Pikes Peak overlook. Crews quickly stabilized the patient while SMFR’s Technical Rescue Team constructed a rope system for safe extraction. After a complex 150-foot rope rescue, the patient was successfully brought to safety by 4:30 p.m. and transported emergent to a local hospital fo