Chief Larson began his Firefighting career with the Amarillo (Texas) Fire Department in 1981. Randy retired after 25 years to take a Deputy Chief position with the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District in Bayfield, Colorado where he spent 8 years before moving to his current position as Fire Chief with the Pagosa Fire Protection District in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Chief Larson has a degree in Fire Protection Technologies from Amarillo College where he also taught in the Amarillo College Fire Academy, Hazardous Materials Academy, Environmental Protections Department and was the Lead Instructor for the Fire Protection Technologies Associates Degree program. Chief Larson is also a certified Colorado State Instructor for All-Hazards Incident Management and has instructed in the Colorado Firefighter Academy, Southwest Colorado Tactical Leaders Academy, and Fire Rescue International.
Chief Larson is a past Chairman of the Four Corners Training Officers Association and was previously a Board Member for the Volunteer Combination Officer’s Section of the IAFC from 2013 through 2017.