Colfax fire chief resigns after 6 months

Colfax Fire Chief Steven Thime has resigned and plans to return to Colorado. Mayor Todd Vanek said Thime submitted a verbal resignation June 19 and the paperwork for his departure was completed June 21.

Thime was officially hired Dec. 5, 2016, and joined the department here in early January just prior to the big East Street apartment fire Jan. 15.

Mayor Vanek credited Thime with starting some reforms in the fire department, but the new chief had generated some controversy during the six months he headed the department.

Vanek acknowledged there have been some “challenges” in the fire department.

Lone public report on the chief's service came from comments made by Councilwoman Sarah McKnight during a council session several weeks ago. She noted she was concerned about some of the informal reports she was receiving on the new chief from volunteer members of the department. McKnight, who had recently been appointed to the council, was advised that the topic she was introducing in open session involved a personnel matter which had to be discussed in executive session.

Thime had been hired after an extensive search to fill the chief's position.

Mayor Vanek said Craig Corbeill, chief of the rural fire district, will head up operation of the station in a dual mode. Prior to Thime's hiring, the fire station operation was headed by Clark Capwell who at that time was chief of the rural fire department.