Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District, a fire district northwest of Boulder, announced the promotion of Mike Palamara Friday to fire chief designate.

Palamara will assume the role of fire chief on Jan. 1, 2026, upon the retirement of John Benson, the district’s longtime fire chief, according to a news release.

“We are thrilled to announce Mike as the BMFPD’s next fire chief,” Bob Loveman, board president of Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District, said in a news release.

“Mike has proven his leadership abilities and brings new perspectives and a proven track record in wildfire mitigation and emergency response, and in leading firefighter teams locally and nationally.”

The district serves about 1,000 homes in the Boulder Heights, Pine Brook Hills, Carriage Hills, Wagonwheel Gap, Buckingham Hills and Valley Lane areas, according to its website. The district also provides mutual aid to communities surrounding it, the website said.

“We thank Chief Benson for his 23 years of distinguished service to the district’s communities and beyond,” Loveman said in the release.

Palamara has worked for the district for 18 years and served as the district’s wildland division chief, the release said.

While serving as division supervisor within the district, Palamara “led the highly successful response to the dangerous 2022 Sanitas Fire, which threatened a large number of Pine Brook Hills and Sunshine residents,” according to the release.

“Thank you for the opportunity to continue to serve Boulder Mountain Fire and its residents in this new capacity,” Palamara said in the release.

“I look forward to working together with community members and (the district’s) volunteers, auxiliary and board of directors to move Boulder Mountain Fire into the future.”

Additionally, he served as a task force leader during the 2024 Oakridge Fire west of Pueblo and engine boss during the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire in Larimer County, the release said.

“During his tenure, Palamara continually grew the size of the crew and increased mitigation activities to prepare land and structures within the district to better withstand wildfire,” the release said.

“He secured large multiyear grants from federal, state and county sources to assist property owners with paying for mitigation treatments.”

The district said Palamara has gained significant experience during dispatches to wildfires in the American West, including the 2021 Dixie Fire in California, the 2021 Bootleg Fire in Oregon, the 2013 Rim Fire in California and other large fires.