Colo. firefighter/patamedic critically injured in 50-foot fall during training

West Metro firefighter and technical rescue instructor was critically injured after falling during a high-angle rescue training exercise

July 30, 2026 06:10 AM

By Katie Langford
The Denver Post

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — A metro Denver firefighter was taken to the hospital with critical injuries on Wednesday morning after he fell 50 feet during a technical training exercise, West Metro Fire Rescue officials said.

West Metro crews were participating in high-angle rescue training in a steep, rocky area near Morrison at around 11 a.m. when firefighter/paramedic Jarrod Leonard fell and was injured, agency officials said on social media.

| NEW RESOURCE: What Paramedics Want in 2026

Leonard was taken to the hospital and is in critical condition and receiving ongoing treatment and evaluations, West Metro leaders said.

“Jarrod has served the West Metro community for more than 23 years and is one of our technical rescue instructors, helping train firefighters in the specialized skills needed to perform rescues in some of the most challenging environments,” the agency said in Wednesday afternoon.

Trending

Grain Elevator, Merriman, Nebraska (USA)

Rescue

Minn. teen rescued after 20-story fall inside abandoned grain elevator

Minneapolis public safety officials say urban exploration is fueling a growing number of dangerous rescues and warned that these incidents put both trespassers and first responders at risk

August 06, 2026 12:30 PM

US-NEWS-DIGNITY-HEALTH-ACCUSED-PROFITFIRST-TACTICS-1-LV.jpg

Legal Issues

Nev. health organization accused of profit-first tactics in EMS partnership

A lawsuit filed by the founders of Community Ambulance Co. alleges Dignity Health attempted to “dictate that patients be delivered to associate facilities even if the facility was not the closest hospital”

August 07, 2026 11:15 AM