The Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) Board of Directors met on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at 7 p.m. to appoint new members to the board and to hear updates from the Fire Chief and Fire Marshal.

Ryan Keeler and Robert Sheehan were both sworn in, giving their written and verbal oaths of office. The NFPD decided to postpone until a future meeting the matter of appointing board members to specific roles, including the open Secretary position.

Interim Fire Chief Charlie Schmidtmann delivered his Chief’s Report, covering recent operations, training, repairs, and calls of significance from late June into early July.

Nederland Fire Department (NFD) crews transported an unconscious patient from a Nederland apartment complex to Boulder County Hospital, assisted in the transport of a patient suffering shortness of breath in downtown Nederland, and responded to a head-on vehicle crash on Boulder Canyon Drive where emergency transport to the hospital was required.

The report also noted that an individual suffering breathing and cardiac problems in West Magnolia experienced a helicopter rescue. On a separate call, an NFD crew acted on a 4:30 a.m. call to West Magnolia although they were told that it would be several hours before law enforcement coverage would be available. Schmidtmann specified in his report that a policy needs to be created prohibiting NFD crews from entering West Magnolia without law enforcement presence.

EMS crews were awarded a $108,837.15 grant to fund a new ambulance. A final meeting to solidify specifications based on safety and durability has been completed with Braun Ambulance and a final quote with full engineering drawings is expected to be delivered in two to three weeks. Due to delays in the industry, the ambulance is not expected to be available for at least two years, so an extension for the grant will most likely be sought.

The Captain’s Report detailed that five NFPD members are requested to engage in the testing of merino wool-based firefighter apparel and station wear prototypes, both designed by a local start-up. There have been increasing concerns that chemicals in standard firefighter gear can cause cancer.

The NFPD purchased and received a $7,000 used SCBA compressor from Castle Rock, which requires the installation of a three-phase power converter. Conor and Cameron Moran, along with Patrick Richardson, helped to load and transport the compressor to Nederland, where several department members assisted in unloading it. Peak to Peak Electric has been contacted to provide an estimate for the three-phase power converter installation.

Though training in June was on hold to focus instead on firefighters gaining their required biannual competency sign-offs, a large-scale wildland training was organized along with Sugarloaf Fire Protection District that was noted to be successful and well attended.

Fire Marshal Andrew Joslin provided a monthly report which detailed the progress and updates being made with operational software First Due. Fire inspections and building design “pre-plans” are being submitted through First Due, streamlining the inspection process. Half of the inspections needed in Nederland’s Central Business District have been completed.

Joslin stated his efforts to assure that fire protection system inspections, repair reports, and data from third-party contractors concerning the location of a business’s hood systems, alarm systems, and fire extinguishers are being filed using the web-based service The Compliance Engine.

The Fire Marshal’s Report also noted that a third-party vendor must be acquired for a fee in order to assist in developing a strong online solution to adequately tracking the Department’s outstanding invoices from the period prior to Joslin taking over the position.

Joslin was also awarded a scholarship from the Division of Fire Prevention and Control for the 2023 Fire Leadership Conference. The scholarship includes a seat at the Fire Marshal Symposium to take place in October 2023.

The meeting ended with a Special Executive Session, during which the NFPD would be hearing from the search team regarding candidates for the vacant Fire Chief position.

The Nederland Fire Protection District Board of Directors meets on the third Wednesday of every month and can now be attended in person or online on Microsoft Teams. Their next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at 7 p.m.

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