NEDERLAND–The Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) Board of Directors received an update on October 16, 2024, concerning the potential collaboration with a neighboring fire district to provide affordable fire mitigation services to homeowners.  

Fire Chief Charlie Schmidtmann and members of the Timberline Fire Protection District (TFPD) attempted to collaborate on a grant opportunity to cover 50% of the salary and benefits for a mitigation specialist. The specialist would oversee mitigation projects for both districts at a cheaper cost to homeowners compared to private mitigation services. 

Unfortunately, due to time constraints a consensus between the two districts was not reached within the three days before the grant application was due. Regardless, Schmidtmann and the NFPD Board felt that the collaboration with Timberline should continue to be pursued, rather than waiting for the next application cycle for the grant.

Board members recommended that, once compensation for the NFPD’s current staff is solidified in the district’s 2025 budget, a budget line item for a mitigation specialist, and/or for future mitigation projects, should be added.  

Chief Schmidtmann reported the calls of significance that NFPD firefighters and medical personnel responded to since September 18, 2024. The report notes that the NFPD have responded to 399 calls so far this year, which, Schmidtmann remarked, was statistically higher than previous years. 

A walk-in patient sought help from the NFPD regarding a hatchet wound to their arm; EMS treated an injured person on trails behind the Nederland Middle-Senior High School; and another patient required backcountry rescue from the Ridge Road area, which proved difficult due to a lack of access. 

The NFPD responded via helicopter with the Indian Peaks Fire District to a stroke patient requiring aid, as well as to a car fire at the Smoker Friendly gas station. Nederland’s firefighters have also been patrolling the West Magnolia area more regularly for illegal campfires, having responded to a total of 12 in the last month.   

Schmidtmann reported that negotiations are underway with the TFPD regarding sharing the cost of a full-time mechanic, in hopes to provide the NFPD with more than the one day per week of mechanic support the district receives currently.  

The Chief’s report also highlighted the training that NFPD volunteers and staff have completed.

New recruits attended courses taught by Lieutenant Candidates Mandi and Scott Papich and Firefighter Larissa Briscombe; standard training on fire extinguishers was held, with Captain Nick Faes teaching Town staff proper fire extinguisher use; and further training on vehicle extrication was taught by Captain Glen Wheelock.   

EMS personnel also attended training on the use of new video laryngoscopes; Firefighters Briscombe and Eleketra Greer, along with Chief Schmidtmann, attended an EMS conference hosted by Boulder Community Health; and two EMS trainings were held by the NFPD, one of which was taught by Captain Faes. 

NFPD recruit Max Schmidtmann was awarded a Boulder County EMS Education Grant, sponsored by American Medical Response, to fully fund his EMT schooling. Max Schmidtmann has also completed all requirements necessary for promotion to Firefighter and is scheduled to receive his badge. 

Fire Marshal Andrew Joslin’s report stated that the Wildfire Atlas has been completed, with thanks given to Chief Schmidtmann, Patrick Richardson, Firefighter Scott Papich, Dr. Meg Matonis of The Ember Alliance, and Ann Leroux of Frederic Printing.

Joslin, along with Captain Faes, taught basic fire safety to the New Explorers preschoolers who visited the fire department as part of Fire Prevention Week. Firefighters will also be visiting Nederland Elementary School (NES) with some custom kids-sized fire helmets. 

The NFPD will also be volunteering to help during the Trunk-or-Treat event hosted by NES on October 25, and will be directing traffic for the traditional Old Town Halloween on October 31.

In the coming months, Joslin will be attending a Fire Marshal's Symposium, as well as a Fire Leadership conference in Keystone with Chief Schmidtmann. Joslin was also awarded the Randy Rudloff Scholarship to attend the annual training conference in Vail of the Colorado Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators.

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 20, 2024, at 7 p.m. 

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