Chief Bales Retirement

Golden Fire Department Fire Chief John Bales officially retired on October 11th, 2018, with 50 years in the fire service. Chief Bales was honored in a retirement celebration on October 20th, 2018 in Thornton. Chief Bales was born into the fire service, his father Maurice “Bud” Bales, became the fire chief of the Wichita Fire Reserves in Kansas in 1950, the same year that John was born. John started his fire career with that same department, the Wichita Fire Department on October 9th, 1968 at the age of 18 years old, and running calls with his dad. John moved to Colorado in 1974 with his new wife Pat. He joined the Thornton Fire Department for 15 years, than served with the Cunningham Fire Protection District, Genesee Fire Protection District, Rocky Flats Fire Department, and Golden Fire Department in 2000. John is married to his wife Pat for 45 years with two sons, Jeff and Steven, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren. Their son, Steven Bales has followed in his father’s footsteps, and currently is a Captain with the Denver Fire Department, and also worked with South Metro Fire Rescue. John is on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Congratulations to Chief John Bales on your retirement from all of us at 5280Fire. Additional information was provided by Karlyn Tilley, Communications Manager/PIO of Golden Fire Department