ANNUAL UPDATE
2025
In this newsletter
Your Fire District in Action
Tender Overhaul Save $1M
Incident Highlight
Fixing and Strengthening the Fire District Mill Levy
Open Houses and Community Event Schedule
Joint Wildland Division Success
Call Volume Trends
Local Mechanics and New Instructors
New to the Crew
Letter from the Chief
The Grand Lake Fire Protection District is not unique in that it faces the momentous challenge of balancing the ability to provide core emergency services to its community, remain proactive and progressive, along with planning for the future, against constraining and dynamic budgets.
As the Fire Chief, I am incredibly proud of the achievements and progress that the GLFPD team continues to make. We consistently exercise extreme financial discipline while still improving employee benefits and conservatively updating equipment and facilities. We progressively approach new operational tactics and training to address the ever-changing dynamics of our community’s emergency service needs. And we proactively involve ourselves in public education, public events, property assessment, and short-term rental inspections. This team views every challenge as an opportunity to learn and build our future goals.
Last winter, we reviewed the past years’ accomplishments and looked to the future goals and challenges to create Grand Lake Fire’s strategic plan for 2025-2028. The structure of this plan is designed to guide our decisions and actions for the next four years. In it, we will continue to remain true to the agency’s mission statement, values, and vision. To us the well-being of those we serve is the top priority and the agency’s success is our contribution to that cause. This document can be found on our website, grandlakefire.org.
In closing, I want to thank the amazing members of the Grand Lake Fire Protection District, our dedicated Board of Directors, and our constituents for their continued support to our beloved organization.
Your District in Action
911 Call Highlight
A father, wife, and their two teenage daughters went snowmobiling in the North Supply area this winter when the older daughter crashed and sustained life-threatening injuries. Grand Lake Fire crews responded by snowmobile and were first on scene to provide critical care and prepare her for transport. GLFPD worked with the GCEMS MMRT crew to medivac the girl to Denver. At the mother's request, Grand Lake Fire provided her second daughter a safe ride out, as she wasn’t comfortable letting her drive or ride with either parent. After ensuring her safety, GLFPD returned to retrieve her snowmobile.
Tender Overhaul saves $1M
Our two tenders each haul 3,500 gallons of water to fires throughout our district. Both trucks are over 22 years old, and we needed to decide whether to invest in keeping them operational or replace them entirely.
GLFPD chose to overhaul the existing tenders through SVI in Fort Collins. They were refurbished from the ground up with new lighting, transmissions, rebuilt pumps, and upgraded accessories. These tenders are now safer, more reliable, and expected to serve for 10 - 15 more years—saving the department an estimated 1 million dollars compared to buying new.
To improve response times and service delivery, GLFPD introduced a Quick Response Vehicle in partnership with GCEMS. The vehicle allows one GLFPD member to assist on medical calls with ALS equipment while keeping others in-house for additional responses. A new “shoot time” policy also ensures crews are en route within 60 seconds during the day and 90 seconds at night. Additionally, the seasonal wildland team supports local incidents, adding up to two engines and 11 personnel when fully available, or one engine and four personnel during national deployments.
The 2025–2028 Strategic Plan outlines the wide range of services GLFPD provides—from fire suppression and emergency medical response to specialty rescue, wildland mitigation, and public education. It also highlights key priorities like improving employee benefits, investing in equipment, and using strategic planning to guide how we meet community needs. We encourage you to explore the full document at grandlakefire.org to see how we’re preparing for the future.
2024 Calls
2024
Achievements
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2025 Goals
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Fixing and Strengthening the Fire District Mill Levy
A Correction to honor Voter Intent- and an Increase to Sustain Emergency Services
What’s Happening?
Grand Lake Fire Protection District (GLFPD) is asking voters to approve two critical adjustments to our mill levy in the November 2025 election:
1. A CORRECTION to fully restore our previously approved 11.63 mills, which we have been unable to collect due to limiting language in the 2019 ballot measure.
2. A MODEST INCREASE to 13 mills, which reflects the real cost of continuing to provide timely, professional emergency services in a rapidly changing environment.
Why Is a Correction Needed?
In 2019, voters approved up to 11.63 mills, but the ballot language restricted collection to the 'lesser of' two amounts — a cap that unintentionally stops revenue growth as property values rise.
This measure will correct that language so GLFPD can collect the full 11.63 mills voters intended.
Want a Deeper Dive?
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Why Is an Increase Needed?
Since that vote, the financial landscape has changed drastically. GLFPD is requesting an increase to 13 mills — a modest but essential adjustment to meet today’s demands:
- Rising call volumes and staffing needs
- PPE costs up 40%
- Apparatus costs more than doubled since 2021
- Below-average wages affect recruitment and retention
- Supply chain delays now exceed 4 years for critical equipment
Compounding Revenue Pressures
- Recent state legislation (SB24-233) permanently reduced taxable assessed values for both residential and commercial properties
- The new 5.25% revenue cap limits annual property tax growth, regardless of inflation or local needs
- These changes reduce or cap local funding even when mill rates remain the same
What We’re Asking
This ballot measure would:
- Correct outdated ballot language so we can collect the full 11.63 mills
- Increase the levy to a maximum of 13 mills to address inflation, call volume, and staffing
- Allow annual adjustments to maintain stable revenue amid legal changes
- Authorize GLFPD to retain and spend these funds under TABOR
Protecting What Matters
This is not about growth — it’s about protecting what we already have. With your support, GLFPD can continue to serve the Grand Lake community with the safety, professionalism, and reliability you expect.
In Other News
Shared Local Mechanic
A new partnership with the Town of Grand Lake has given us access to a well qualified mechanic locally. This opportunity gives GLFPD access to professional mechanic skillset and tools to complete maintenance and repairs on our apparatus in house. This will allow for drastically lower out-of-service time and expense savings when compared to taking the apparatus to Denver for service. It’s a huge win!
Congratulations to Lt. Nelson and FF EMT Hayden for receiving their certification as DFPC Fire Instructors. Many qualifications that our firefighters need can now be taught in house, and this resource can be shared with the greater grand county firefighting community.
The Grand Wildland Team is training hard, working smart, and ready to respond. This crew brings grit and professionalism to everything they do—cutting line, leading mitigation projects, and staying sharp through fitness and field training.
Operating under Grand Fire and Grand Lake Fire, the team unites local knowledge and resources to tackle wildfire risk year-round. Their work goes beyond response: they reduce fuels, engage the public, and prepare for future fire seasons. This is more than a job—it’s a mission.
Quick Stats:
• Burn Piles (2024–25): 1,447 completed; goal of 4,000 for 2025–26
• Crew Size: 11 staff, supporting 3–4 engines
• Grant Funding: $1.26 million awarded (not including Wildfire Council)
• Roadside Mitigation: ~20 miles, ~100 acres across 3 districts
In Other News
Welcome to the newest GLFPD family members all born in 2025! From top to bottom: Renn St. Germain son of Seth and Ellie St. Germain, Brielle Hochhalter daughter of Benjamin and Kyra Hochhalter, and Owen Steward son of Krystal and Colin Steward.
Find times and details at grandlakefire.org
July 12th Outdoor Recreation Safety Open House and Free Lunch 10am
July 27th Coffee with the Chief 8am @ Blue Water Bakery
August 9th School Bus Stop Safety Open House and Free Lunch 10am
August 17th Buffalo Days Water Zone
August 18th Coffee with the Chief 8am @ Wake Coffee Shop
September 13th Fall Kick Off
Open House and Free Lunch 11am
September 21st Coffee with the Chief 8am @ The Hub
October 11th Fire Prevention Week Charge into Safety
Open House and Free Lunch 11am
November 14th and 15th Winter Hydrant Awareness Class
December Secret Santa Truck Rides
The Grand Wildland Team is training hard, working smart, and ready to respond. This crew brings grit and professionalism to everything they do—cutting line, leading mitigation projects, and staying sharp through fitness and field training.
Operating under Grand Fire and Grand Lake Fire, the team unites local knowledge and resources to tackle wildfire risk year-round. Their work goes beyond response: they reduce fuels, engage the public, and prepare for future fire seasons. This is more than a job—it’s a mission.
Quick Stats:
• Burn Piles (2024–25): 1,447 completed; goal of 4,000 for 2025–26
• Crew Size: 11 staff, supporting 3–4 engines
• Grant Funding: $1.26 million awarded (not including Wildfire Council)
• Roadside Mitigation: ~20 miles, ~100 acres across 3 districts