NEDERLAND - While the The Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) experienced fewer calls than average over the last month, the Board of Directors learned on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, from the Fire Marshal’s report, of a rise in local businesses being fined and issued Stop Work Orders.

The Board was first given an overview of Fire Chief Charlie Schmidtmann’s monthly report, which detailed the calls of significance that had occurred since January 15. 

NFPD responders attended to a patient suffering a stroke, another suffering from an axe wound, and a man who had been pepper sprayed after reportedly “riding around on the hood of a car in town.” Fire district personnel also helped a man whose wheelchair was stuck in the snow, responded to a car crash on Sugarloaf road—where luckily no one was injured—and answered one call to Eldora. 

NFPD Fire Marshal Andrew Joslin delivered his monthly report, which highlighted some major inspections of existing Nederland businesses. Joslin reported that some of the inspections led to “several compliance issues” that resulted in three Stop Work Orders being issued, as well as multiple fines totalling over $4,000. 

Many of the infractions noted in Joslin’s report were attributed to one multi-use commercial/residential building in Nederland. Captain Wheelock responded to a report of a gas odor, which led to the discovery of several infractions within the building, including a gas leak. 

Chief Schmidtmann and Fire Marshal Joslin were also at the scene; they contacted the building manager and assisted in rehousing and relocating the evacuated residents. Joslin noted that the building management and owner were being cooperative in addressing the situation. 

Joslin reported that over the last month several homes in the District are close to their final certification of occupancy, three sprinkler systems had passed final inspections, two sprinkler systems passed their rough inspections, and three solar projects were inspected and approved.  

Joslin’s report noted his work with the Town of Nederland identifying and prioritizing water and sewer infrastructure improvement projects, and on consulting the Board of Trustees (BOT) on the issue of adopting the 2024 International Fire Code. 

During the BOT meeting on Tuesday, February 18, the Board instructed Town staff to draft an ordinance adopting the 2024 codes, which was the NFPD’s recommendation. 

Also at that meeting, Andrew Bliss, Town Utilities Department Manager, presented the proposed water and sewer infrastructure improvements, which included the District’s priority of installing new fire hydrants at and around the Nederland Community Center. 

The State of Colorado’s Wildfire Resiliency Code Board, created in 2023, is responsible for adopting model codes. Joslin stated that he has been attending the meetings of this board and will report any updates to the NFPD.

The code is expected to be published on July 1, 2025, and once established will require the Town of Nederland and NFPD to adopt and adhere to the new requirements. 

Joslin will also be attending the Educational Institute of the Colorado chapter of the International Code Council, to take place in early March in Loveland. Among other courses, he will be attending one on the 2024 International Fire Code..

During the freezing temperatures Nederland experienced in late January, the fire station’s main furnace failed, causing first floor offices to be without heat. After the furnace had been repaired, the station’s second furnace was found also to have failed, which required a part from Denver in order to be operational again.  

It was reported that personnel have been working on general snow maintenance, updating Standard Operating Procedures, replacing facility light covers, and repairing drywall. The NFPD received several sets of new bunker gear, and were donated four 35-liter backpacks, four avalanche receivers, four avalanche probes, and four shovels. 

Chief Schmidtmann also notified the Board that the District has been awarded a $96,000 grant from Boulder County. These funds will provide two new radios in every one of the District’s vehicles, to be installed by the District’s new staff mechanic.  

Many of the District’s vehicles received repairs and maintenance. This included the installation of a new manifold and of new lenses for a lightbar, repair of a fuel tank, replacement of a front axle actuator, and changing an air filter. 

The concept build drawings for the NFPD’s new ambulance have been approved, which Schmidtmann reported as “marking tangible progress in the acquisition” of the vehicle. The ambulance is expected to be delivered in April of 2026. 

Captain Glen Wheelock hosted training for officers who take command on larger operations. Wheelock also taught Firefighter Self-Rescue and Rapid Intervention Team training. Captain Nick Faes hosted Respiratory Emergency and Ladder training, and Captain Conor Moran led training on Gear and Radio Communications. 

In preparation for Fire Academy, the NFPD’s newest recruits received Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus training. Firefighters also attended courses from regional partners on traffic control and trauma scenarios. 

Chief Schmidtmann attended a 40-hour section of the Compost Operations Training Course, a five-day commitment offered in Grand Junction by the Compost Research and Education Foundation.

Captain Faes has completed his Fire Instructor certification, and Fire Marshal Andrew Joslin has joined the Colorado Firefighting Officers Association. After participating in his first meeting of the association, Joslin noted that “a network of training officers throughout the state” were in attendance.  

Elektra Greer received special thanks in the Chief’s report for her work with the Chief writing the application for the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control’s Firefighter Disease and Safety Grant. Firefighter Larissa Briscombe was also thanked for proofreading the application. 

Captain Moran was also highlighted in Schmidtmann’s report for his work on the District’s EMS department. Over the last month, Moran began seeking approval to host an EMT skills session through a hybrid course program called Cocera, and he has reached out to Lyons’ EMS department regarding the possibility of collaborating in teaching EMT classes.   

Two candidates for available PRN (pro re nata) Paramedic positions with the District, Jason Blumen and PJ Moon, were interviewed and offered the positions. 

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, March 19, 2025, at 7 p.m. 

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