NEDERLAND - The Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) Board of Directors met on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, to review Fire Chief Charlie Schmidtmann’s monthly report.

The report highlighted all personnel matters, vehicle repairs, training administered, and calls of significance that occurred within the district since August 20. 

District firefighters and medical personnel responded to a rollover motor vehicle accident in Boulder Canyon, and attended to a rock climber who had fallen, also in the canyon.

The NFPD assisted Timberline Fire Protection District in a mutual aid call to attend to an unconscious party, as well as attended to a disoriented party, and to a “code black.” 

 Firefighters hiked into the backcountry for eight hours to rescue a person on Arapahoe Pass Trail, responded to Ridge Road to a patient suffering chest pain, and provided assistance to a 10-day old infant who was having difficulty breathing. They also rescued a dog that was locked in a car and attended to a person who suffered significant injuries from a motorcycle crash near Castle Rock. 

The NFPD responded to a total of nine illegal campfires since August 20. 

Schmidtmann announced to the Board the passing of Bill Baumgartner, who served the NFPD as a specialty mechanic from 1999 to 2021. Baumgartner was 80 years old.

Kehoe memorial 

Schmidtmann also detailed within his report the work that had been done by NFPD personnel to host the memorial for Lieutenant Ken Kehoe, which was held at the Nederland Fire station and was attended by 300 people in person. Over 200 people watched the ceremony online.  

“Very special thanks to Sherry Snyder, Fire Marshal Joslin, Captains Conor Moran, Glen Wheelock, and Nick Faes, Lieutenants Bobby Swanson, Mandi Papich, and Scott Papich, Sarah Irwin-Powell, Larissa Briscombe, Dawn Baumhover and the Nederland Community Center, and Jessica Kruckenberg and the Nederland Elementary School,” Schmidtmann wrote.

The Chief also thanked those from the community who lent chairs and tables for the event; the NFPD staff for cleaning, setting up, sourcing and setting up the PA system for the event, and painting the station’s stairways; and the Town of Nederland for signage cones and permitting.    

“I also want to thank all our mutual aid partners, with special thanks to Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Timberline Fire, and Gilpin Ambulance who helped with traffic and covered the district during the service.”

The NFPD also hosted their own celebration in remembrance of Lt. Kehoe, along with members of his immediate family. Schmidtmann and Lt. Swanson traveled to Green Bay, Wisconsin, to attend the funeral with Lt. Kehoe’s extended family. 

Auxiliary

Following the Board’s vote during their August meeting to approve reinstating the Nederland Auxiliary as the main fundraising committee for the NFPD, two members were appointed to lead the auxiliary, Sarah Irwin-Powell and Illana Pearlman. 

The auxiliary is required to be established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and will need to get their own Employer Identification Number. Their first event is a ceremony planned for late October.

Training

Schmidtmann’s report highlighted the training being attended, and conducted, by District firefighters. 

Captain Wheelock was noted for having passed the state exam for Fire Instructor 2, as well as for setting up the course for driver training. Lieutenants Mandi and Scott Papich, along with Schmidtmann, attended a class on driver pumps at the National Fire Academy; and NFPD mechanic Daniel Murphy, along with other probationary firefighters, enrolled in Firefighter 1 academy.

Murphy also taught a class on pump operations, and Captain Faes taught a class on ambulance operations and competencies.

NFPD responders also completed an in-house training and workout on September 11, in remembrance of those firefighters who served and sacrificed on that historic day. The workout was inspired by the 343 workout, which honors the 343 firefighters who died at Ground Zero with variations of 343 reps. 

Fire Marshal’s Report 

Fire Marshal Andrew Joslin delivered his monthly report to the Board, which highlighted that all of the Town of Nederland’s facilities have been inspected over the last month. Joslin noted no major concerns.

Following their correction of some minor issues, the Nederland Elementary School has also passed inspection, allowing them to apply to the state for a pre-school license. 

Joslin’s report included an update on the adoption of the 2024 International Fire Code (IFC). He has been working on draft amendments to the Town of Nederland’s fire code, which have been sent to the Nederland Board of Trustees, to Boulder County’s Chief Building Official, and to the Boulder County Fire Code Review Committee for review. 

Boulder County reportedly has the matter of the 2024 IFC adoption set for a hearing on October 9 at 3 p.m. at the Boulder County Courthouse before the Fire Code Review Committee. 

Joslin added that he will be meeting with County officials next week to review the Wildfire Resiliency Code and to “ensure our IFC amendments, and the Town’s adoption amendments, fall in line with the newly adopted state requirements.”

Public Hearing

In regard to the proposal of the Shady Hollow subdivision’s inclusion into the NFPD, a public hearing is scheduled for October 15, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.

Shady Hollow is the neighborhood located off Ridge Road, northeast of Nederland. Shady Hollow’s inclusion into the District will provide the residents with all the emergency services that the NFPD offers, as well providing additional tax revenue to the NFPD. 

For more information on this matter go to: https://www.nfpd.org/2025-10-15-public-hearings-inclusion-6-30pm 

The Nederland Fire Protection District Board of Directors meets on the third Wednesday of every month. Meetings can be attended online via Microsoft Teams. Their next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 7 p.m. 

For more information go to: https://www.nfpd.org.