NEDERLAND - The Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) Board of Directors met on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, to discuss the Lakeview Fire, which leveled the Caribou Village Shopping Center the morning of Thursday, October 9.

The Board discussed the investigation into the fire, and the NFPD’s next steps regarding oversight of the building. 

Shady Hollow inclusion

Board members first held a public hearing regarding the Shady Hollow subdivision’s inclusion into the District. 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 as providing additional tax revenue to the NFPD. 

Hearing no objections from the public, the Board voted unanimously in favor of formally including the Shady Hollow subdivision into the District. 

Chief’s report

In his monthly report, NFPD Chief Charlie Schmidtmann thanked the many agencies who responded to the Lakeview Fire, the local businesses who fed first responders, and the Town of Nederland officials and staff who worked to support responders and roll out emergency services.  

“This was an immense incident to run,” Schmidtmann said. “Everyone involved worked incredibly hard, never gave up, and helped save so much of our community.”

The National Response Team from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives completed their part of the investigation, Schmidtmann reported. There was currently no evidence to support that the fire was intentionally set, he said.

The NFPD and Boulder County Sheriff’s Office publicly announced this information following Wednesday’s meeting. The NFPD’s official statement noted that the processing of evidence collected—ranging from surveillance footage, submitted videos, and conducted interviews—will take some time, perhaps up to six months.

In that statement, Schmidtmann noted that on Thursday, October 16, the NFPD released control of the site back to owner Tebo Properties. Tebo Properties will provide security as the site is cleaned up and, in coordination with insurance providers, allow business owners access to the site. 

Other calls    

Chief Schmidtmann’s monthly report also detailed the other 28 calls of significance which occurred since September 17. 

Responders took to the backcountry in the NFPD’s UTV to transport a patient suffering a knee injury out on Lost Lake Trail, and a patient with an ankle injury on the Hessie Trail.

The NFPD also responded to a vehicle rollover accident on Highway 119 and Magnolia Road, a significant propane leak in Sugarloaf’s district, a gas leak at a home in Old Town caused by a dog jumping up onto the stove, and a report of a structure fire on West 3rd Street which turned out to be a leaking water heater. 

Training update

Schmidtmann highlighted the various operations conducted by NFPD firefighters and EMS personnel, as well as the training they have attended, and the courses they have organized and taught. 

Firefighter Larissa Briscombe re-certified several firefighters for CPR, Captain Glen Wheelock taught a class on Cardiac Arrests, and Captain Conor Moran and District Administrator Sherry Snyder applied for the Boulder County Emergency Services Grant.

Captain Moran also led a class on radios, radio updates, and EMS scenarios, as well as Narcan training. He also created a list of instructors for the District’s upcoming EMT program, which is planned to begin by early February.

Vehicle update

In an update regarding the NFPD’s vehicles, Schmidtmann reported that EMS personnel have completed service training with the District’s new ambulance, and that the ambulance is currently in service.

The District’s newest Fire Engine, 5601, is not yet in service, though Captain Nick Faes has been working with the other Captains to ensure that all necessary items required are installed onto the vehicle. The NFPD will be hosting a push-in ceremony for the new engine on Sunday, October 26, at 2 p.m. at 650 West 4th Street. 

Board members also discussed the possibility of the District purchasing a new commercial wildland, single axle WUI Type 2 “Big Horn” engine from BME Fire Trucks LLC for $662,529. 

Schmidtmann reiterated to Board members that the one backup engine the District currently has is old, and that such a new engine may not be available again until after 2027. The Chief urged pursuing the acquisition expeditiously. 

Though there was some concern raised about strains on the budget, the NFPD Board agreed with the need and urgency of having an up-to-date and reliable backup engine and voted to approve purchasing the new engine.    

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, November 19, 2025, at 7 p.m. 

For more information, go to nfpd.org.