The Clifton Fire Protection District was first formed in 1943 and made up of volunteers who were local farmers, ranchers, and community members. The first fire engine was a school bus donated by the local school district and converted by volunteers. The first Fire Chief was Louie Strain, followed by Charles Strain, Donald Barrick, Wayne Pond, and the first paid Fire Chief was Kent Holsan.

The last volunteer at Clifton Fire retired in 2018, and the District is now only paid full-time and part-time employees. There is one Fire Chief, one full-time Administrative Assistant, three Captains, 15 full-time firefighters of either EMT or Paramedic qualifications, five firefighter/EMS part-time employees, and two EMS-only part-time employees.

Clifton Fire provides EMS and Fire services to the community of Clifton, which has approximately 45,000 citizens in an area of approximately 15 miles, and maintains an ISO Rating of 3. In 2022, Clifton responded to 4,349 calls, and this number continues to grow each year. 

Clifton Fire is a Colorado Title 32 Special District and is managed by a Board of Directors elected from the property owners within the Clifton Fire District. Board meetings take place once a month, at 6:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, at the Clifton Fire District Station. The voters of the District voted to implement an 11.552 mill levy in 2017 and de-gallagharized in 2018.

Today, the District has one 75-foot ladder truck, two fire engines, a brush truck, one boat, two in-service ambulances, one out-of-service ambulance, two squads, and one administrative vehicle. With the support of the Clifton Community, the District continues to maintain strong community ties and provides quality service to the Community and surrounding areas.