Barbara Lawlor, Peak to Peak.  The Timberline Fire Protection District held its monthly barbecue and board meeting, open to the public, at Station 8 at the intersection of Hwy 46 and Smith Hill Road, on Tuesday, August 11th.

Many people arrived saying they had never been to the station before. It is the intent of the district to become visible and welcoming to the residents in the TFPD and introducing them to the stations and their firefighters is just one of the projects that Chief Glenn Levy has initiated. It is his hope that people coming for a burger and a brownie will stay for the meeting and familiarize themselves with the process and the reasons for spending their tax money.

After the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence for fallen firefighters, Chief Levy introduced firefighters Scott Matthews and Mark Foreman, both of whom earned their black helmets, ending their rookie period. He told the men that a fire helmet is known to be the symbol of protection, but more than that, it is the symbol of responsibility offering peace and trust for the community.

Four firefighters, Eric Douglas, Ross Palmer, Dave Taylor, and Rob Savoye, were promoted to lieutenants and received their red helmets. "We expect and demand that you are responsible at a level that is greater than yourself. Also, your responsibility is to challenge me on everything. It should be your goal not just to feel good, but to do good," said Chief Levy.

The High Country Auxiliary has supported and been a partner to the Timberline Fire Protection District since before it became Timberline, a consolidation of High Country and Colorado Sierra Fire Departments.

Last week, the Auxiliary presented District with a check to support flashlights handed out to kids during public education presentations; purchase of baseball-type caps for all TFPD personnel; purchase of carbon monoxide detectors for the medical bags; assistance for the annual award ceremony; and provision of a $100 award to each of three firefighters who had the greatest impact in 2014. The total donation was $3,885.

The district has ordered four ice rescue suits, slings, water rescue throw bags, and rescue boards to be funded with a matching grant awarded in 2014. The total cost of the equipment was $4,978. The district also received a grant to purchase wildland jackets, pants, and backfire flares, as well as equipment for new firefighters.

One of Chief Levy's priorities when he first came on board was to create a zero deficit budget, finishing 2015 with expenditures not exceeding income.  He reports that the district is fully caught up on required maintenance and repairs of fire apparatus. As of July 31, the district is tracking about 4.5 percent under the zero deficit budget. "Cutting the budget is not my goal. Ensuring that we are responsible and transparent with the resources entrusted to us by the Timberline Community is."

Levy says he will stay the course for the next five months and is cautiously optimistic that the zero deficit budget goal will be met. "We are taking care of business. There is nothing that is not being done that should be done."

TFPD borders nine different agencies, which all operate differently, have different radio channels, and utilize two different 911 centers, in Gilpin and Boulder Counties. These agencies include: Central City FD, Black Hawk FD, Colorado State Parks, Golden Gate FD, Coal Creek Canyon FD, Sugar Loaf FD, Nederland, Gilpin County Sheriff's Department, and the United States Forest Service.

Timberline handles 85 percent of its calls with district resources, but none of the agencies has the staffing or capacity to handle major events without mutual aid. Chief Levy asked the Board to give permission to pursue a more formal and collaborative relationship with all of the response partners, by developing a Peak to Peak Consortium. The goal is for the Chief's training staff, officers, and firefighters to work together, train together, and utilize the best from each agency to make the collective better.

"We all have the same staffing and response issues, so let's work together to help each other before we need each other." He says he will proceed with the concept and reach out to other agencies to determine the level of interest.

In July, TFPD responded to 55 calls, several smoke sightings, a couple of backcountry rescues, and serious medical issues. Training included low-angle rescue techniques and a surprise simulated structure fire using fire attack and a search for the victim with reduced ventilation and zero visibility.

The district maintained its current staffing and added three new members, who will attend an academy in September.

Chief Levy reported that he and his wife Christine will be moving to their new home in Missouri Lakes at the end of the month.

The board approved an intergovernmental agreement between Black Hawk, Central City, TFPD, Gilpin County, and Clear Creek County concerning the joint maintenance of a command vehicle that will probably be located at Station 8 or 9 in TFPD. The 2015 Ford Command vehicle was purchased through the Colorado Homeland Security Grant Program to the North Central all-Hazards Management Region so that agency members can improve their emergency response. The command vehicle is designed to function in mountain terrain under adverse weather conditions.

Each agency will be responsible for fuel costs, maintenance and repairs, training, preparing the vehicle for its next deployment, and having a point-of-contact representative.

It was a busy month full of progress, and Chief Levy says, "We are rocking on."

The next board meeting will be on September 17 at Station 3.