Johnson leaving West Region Wildfire Council; Morrill to step in

On Dec. 5, 2025, Aaron Johnson announced to the team at West Region Wildfire Council (WRWC) that he would be leaving his position as the Chief Operations Officer for a new position with the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC). Scott Morrill, a member of the board of directors for West Region Wildfire Council since its inception, has agreed to step into the role of Chief Operating Officer.

Aaron Johnson has been with WRWC for three years as an award-winning member of the WRWC team. WRWC CEO Tim Pinnow said of Aaron, “Leadership transitions at non-profit organizations are always difficult. The West Region Wildfire Council has been incredibly fortunate to have Aaron Johnson as our Chief Operating Officer.

According to a press release issued by WRWC, Johnson’s “wildfire mitigation and administrative expertise has been a cornerstone of WRWC’s growth over these last few years. While we are deeply saddened to see Aaron leave us, we take heart in the fact that the State of Colorado has seen the quality of Aaron’s work. Aaron is deeply deserving of this opportunity and we wish Aaron nothing but the best as he seeks to move wildfire mitigation forward not just in our six-county region, but throughout the state.”

“I am deeply thankful for my time with the West Region Wildfire Council and the opportunity to serve our communities,” Johnson said in the press release. “The relationships, collaboration and shared commitment to wildfire resilience will stay with me as I move forward. Thank you all for engaging in mitigation efforts and for the trust you placed in me.”

Scott Morrill has been on the WRWC board since the beginning, for a total of 15 years. Previously he was the emergency manager for Gunnison County for 20 years. With a thorough understanding of the impact of wildfire in Western Colorado, Morrill has stressed that WRWC is of great importance to him.

Of Morrill, Tim Pinnow stated, “I can’t believe how fortunate we are that Scott Morrill is willing to step in and assist WRWC in making this transition. With Scott’s incredible connections and knowledge throughout Western Colorado, I am sure that we are well-positioned to continue and expand our work to give our region a future more resilient to wildfire.”

The West Region Wildfire Council promotes wildfire preparedness, prevention and mitigation education throughout Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel counties.