Chaffee County Fire
Chafee, Colorado
How we verified this
As of August 2026 Chaffee County fire dispatch is in the clear on the State of Colorado DTRS — "Chaffee FD Disp | Fire & EMS Dispatch" and Fire Tactical 2 through 6 are all plain "D" — while two secure talkgroups, "Chaffee FD Sec 2 | Fire Secure 2" and "Chaffee FD Sec 3", are flagged "D Enc".
Encryption Details
Chafee County Context
Of the 2 public-safety agencies we track in Chafee County, Chaffee County Fire is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.
See every agency we track in Chafee County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
A subset of this department's talkgroups are encrypted rather than the whole system. Everything outside that subset may still be audible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chaffee County Fire radio encrypted?
Yes — Chaffee County Fire's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. A subset of this department's talkgroups are encrypted rather than the whole system. Everything outside that subset may still be audible.
Can I listen to Chaffee County Fire on a police scanner?
Partially. Chaffee County Fire encrypts specific talkgroups rather than the whole system, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Chaffee County Fire encrypt their radio?
Ask why, and the answer is usually officer safety, sometimes operational security. What is harder to obtain is any documented case in Chafee County where an open channel caused harm. The costs need no such documentation: reporting on fire department response slows down, and mutual-aid coordination gets more awkward, immediately.
Can Chafee County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes, and some departments already have. Because encryption here is a choice rather than a technical necessity, the path back runs through the same people who chose it: budget hearings, records requests, and residents who keep asking in public.
What can I do about Chaffee County Fire encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Chaffee County Fire, and the recordings themselves — because a specific request is harder to wave away than a general complaint. Then take what you learn to a council meeting, and bring others from Chafee County with you.