ANNUAL UPDATE
2024
Mission
With Pride and Professionalism, the fire district will provide the highest level of emergency and public service in response to the needs of our community.
2023 Calls
State of the District
Dear Constituents and Supporters,
Grand Lake Fire Protection District has been committed to minimizing life and property loss since our founding in 1952. Our team of first responders addresses a spectrum of emergencies, from medical incidents to fires, hazmat, and search and rescue operations across our 105 square miles in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Since our last newsletter we’ve had a mill levy ballot initiative, saw changes to legislation and assessed values, and expanded fire and life safety inspections of short-term rentals into unincorporated Grand County.
Our operations are driven by a commitment to continuous improvement, adapting to evolving community needs. Over the past 3 years, we've witnessed a 9% uptick in the proportion of EMS calls relative to the total call volume. The current percentage of EMS calls now stands slightly above 60%.
GLFPD exercises meticulous adherence to the budget and strategic goals. For 6 years emergency services have seen equipment, fuel, tires, and medication costs rise an average of 13% every year. Despite challenges posed by financial constraints and rising costs, GLFPD remains dedicated to fiscal responsibility. Transparency and accountability serve as cornerstones of GLFPD's ethos. To this end, we have made critical documents such as the strategic plan, annual budget, and replacement plans readily accessible on our website. We aim to actively engage with you, our community, through public education programs, free building plan reviews, and wildfire property assessments.
Collaborations with neighboring agencies, the joint wildland division with Grand Fire, and the formation of the Headwaters Rescue Authority underscore GLFPD's commitment to seamless collaboration and comprehensive incident response. Additionally, we take pride in our role in the successful implementation of the Community Wildfire Prevention Plan (CWPP) and in achieving our goal to return funds to reserves while operating under budget. Looking forward to 2024, Grand Lake Fire sets ambitious goals, marking the final year of the current strategic plan.
As we navigate the dynamic landscape of emergency response, we thank you for trusting Grand Lake Fire to stand resolute in our mission to provide the highest level of emergency and public service in response to the needs of our community.
Sincerely,
Seth St. Germain
Fire Chief
Special
Operations
Grand Lake Fire Protection District and Grand Fire have co-funded a new joint position, an assistant chief of special operations. We welcome David Wolf to this new role, which will support collaborative projects in wildland, water rescue, hazmat, and unmanned aviation and technology.
Headwaters Rescue Authority (founded in 2021 with GLFPD, Grand Fire, EGFPD, GC Sheriff's and GC EMS) has created a unified approach to incident response to any body of water within the county, bringing faster and more cohesive care to aquatic emergency incidents. Partnering agencies can work together to share resources, filling in the gaps for each other with equipment and areas of expertise. HRA has purchased an underwater ROV and has built a financial plan to purchase sonar equipment and a watercraft for rescue and recovery.
2023
Achievements
Returned approx. $219,000 to the reserve account through strong financial discipline.
Enacted the CWPP (Community Wildfire Prevention Plan) for the first time as a collaborative, county-wide effort.
Completed tire replacement plan, all vehicles meet DOT requirements.
Established new public education program named Empowering Everyday Heroes.
Improved joint wildland division with more staffing and an aggressive mitigation plan.
Grand Lake Fire now has Mailchimp! Join our email list today to stay up to date on upcoming events and periodic updates from Grand Lake Fire!
2024 Goals
Implement first year of the Board approved Salary Correction Plan.
Sell the 20-year-old tender & purchase a new-to-us version with funds from the reserve account.
Increase energy efficiency of facilities through upgrades to the existing apron heater, windows, doors, and hvac.
Have a successful public education program.
Replace 20-year-old carpet in the fitness and 2nd floor commons area.
Continued budgetary discipline.
Recruitment and retention of career and volunteer first responders.
Draft the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan.
Continue to achieve exemplary training standards.
Short-term
Rentals
In response to the evolving landscape of short-term rentals (STRs) in our county, the Grand Lake Fire Protection District aims to shed light on our role in the licensing process and the vital importance of fire and life safety inspections for STRs.
Inspections go beyond compliance; they are opportunities to educate property owners and managers about fire safety. Understanding and implementing safety measures not only creates a safer living space for guests but also reduces the impact of emergencies.
911 Call volume to STR Addresses
We've noticed a rise in calls from short-term rental addresses within our district, with over 85% of fire alarms and 60% of EMS calls coming from these locations. A building with a transient occupancy, when guests stay for less than 30 days, has a unique set of challenges. High turnover of occupants, no permanent residents on site, a lack of occupancy load control, and renters with low to no knowledge of the safety concerns of the building or residential area, as examples. These challenges, and the effect they have on communities and emergency services underscores the need for thorough safety inspections.
Tax Rates
Additionally, special districts are supported nearly exclusively through property taxes. Considering taxes, STRs are classified as businesses but taxed as residences, with a lower rate (approx. 7.9%) compared to hotels (approx.29%) Both STRs and hotels must meet safety criteria, but STRs contribute to the community's tax base at a rate that may be considered inconsistent with their resource use.
Licensing Process & Inspections
The short-term rental licensing process is administered by either the municipality or county government where the rental is located. Rates, forms, deadlines, and requirements for these licenses are beyond our jurisdiction. While it’s true GLFPD does not control the licensing process, in support of the County and Town’s permitting programs, the Grand Lake Fire Protection District's Board of Directors has passed mandates for inspections of short-term rentals. These resolutions prioritize the health, safety, and welfare of property stakeholders and visitors.
An inspection by GLFPD at a short-term rental covers 29 codes and their dozens of sub-codes from the International Fire Code, ensuring a thorough examination of fire and life safety aspects. Not all codes and sub-codes will be applicable to every rental. A large house with solar panels, fireplaces, and elevators is going to take much longer to inspect than a first-floor studio condo, and this is reflected in our fee structure. A longer explanation can be found at grandlakefire.org.
We understand that licensing can be a relatively costly and tedious process. To help, GLFPD has worked to keep fees reasonable (reduced in 2021) and streamlined the timeline by offering scheduling, invoice payment, and report delivery all online.
GLFPD's involvement in STR inspections and licensing emphasizes our commitment to community safety. Through awareness, education, and streamlined processes, we aim to strike a balance between the growth of the STR industry and the well-being of our residents and visitors.
Empowering
Everyday
Heroes
Discover our monthly one-hour public education events, held 2x a month, designed to engage, educate, and empower you on vital public safety topics.January 19 & 20
ABC’s of Smoke and Carbon Monoxide ProtectionFebruary 9 & 10
911! What to do in an EmergencyMarch 8 & 9
Mastering Car Seat SafetyMarch 30
Easter Egg Hunt! & Open House 11amApril 5 & 6
Wildfire Ready: Safeguarding Homes and CommunitiesMay 17 & 18
Peanuts and Bees and Shellfish Oh My! Allergic Reaction EmergenciesJune 14 & 15
Whats in Your Cupboards? Household Chemical SafetyJuly 12 & 13
Prepare for Fun! Outdoor Recreation SafetyAugust 9 & 10
Bus Stop Safety and AwarenessSeptember TBDOctober TBD
Fire Prevention Week Open HouseNovember 15 & 16
Winter Hydrant AwarenessDecember 6 & 7
Seniors Cold Weather Safety
Assessed Values, Budget, and Mill Levy
In the face of financial challenges, the Grand Lake Fire Protection District is charting a positive course toward resilience and future growth.
While the 2023 mill levy election was unsuccessful by only 16 votes, this has not dampened the department's spirits. The District remains committed to pursuing a mill levy increase to restructure the current tiered and threshold-based mill levy. As a cornerstone of the district's funding, the constraints have presented hurdles, but GLFPD remains steadfast in its commitment to adapt and thrive.
Costs of necessary operational purchases such as fuel, tires, firefighting and medical equipment, medications, and safety gear have all increased dramatically, 8% and 18% annually over the last 6 years. This trend is consistent nation-wide. For example: In 2019 a fire engine could be purchased for $700,000 and one could expect delivery within 12 months. Now, in 2024, the same engine costs $1.2 million and delivery takes about 4 years.
Undeterred, Grand Lake Fire's administrative team prioritizes retention and professional development. A “salary correction" plan and new retirement HSA savings plan aims to ensure competitive compensation and benefits, positioning GLFPD as an attractive employer.
GLFPD is poised to meet the milestone of injecting over half a million dollars back into reserves from 2021 through the projected 2024 fiscal year. This impressive feat positions the district to purchase the next two replacement fire apparatuses outright, eliminating the need for loans and interest payments—a significant achievement given the rising interest rates and aging equipment surpasses 20 years.
Grand Lake Fire reports 3-year revenue growth of 12% from increased assessed valuations, rising interest rates for investment accounts, and strong supplemental income from wildland deployments, service fees, and donations.
Grand Lake Fire remains optimistic, facing challenges head-on with a commitment to responsible growth, service quality, and employee well-being. The district values transparency and community support as it navigates financial complexities, ensuring a fire protection service that effectively meets the demands of Grand County.
