The word is out! The Pinewood Lake Wildfire Action Group (PLWAG) was heavily featured in the Reporter-Herald for our recent neighborhood emergency evacuation drill. It is incredible to see our community's hard work and dedication to wildfire safety recognized on a larger stage. The article highlights how our neighborhood works together to stay prepared: Emergency Communications: Pete and Angie Robbins demonstrated our community GMRS radio network, showing how neighbors can st

It's hard to believe our GMRS repeater is about to turn 2! It all started 5 years ago with an idea of neighbors being able to talk to each other during a blizzard, fire, flood, or other incident where power or phones would be out. While there are a few Ham Radio operators in the area, we recognize not everyone wants to take a test to use a radio. GMRS was the answer: just pay $35 for your 10-year license that covers your whole household and get a radio, which range in price f

On this past weeks GMRS community Net, Angie R., WSDI574, discussed the recent news about a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship has brought renewed attention to this serious disease. Thank you to all those who contributed to a great conversation. While the strain involved in that outbreak on the cruise ship differs from the one found in the United States, it serves as an important reminder that hantavirus remains a concern closer to home, especially here in Colorado.

Pinewood residents Gib and Lisa Coalwell worked with attendees to help set up informal buddy groups among neighbors. Here's the outline of how to do that: What is a Buddy Group? Simply put, it is a group of neighbors who have agreed to communicate and check on each other. It might be as simple as making sure someone is OK after not hearing from them for a while, or as urgent as letting them know there’s an emergency situation they need to know about. It may be someone lettin

At our recent Evacuation Exercise, Pete and Angie R. shared their journey from an isolated neighborhood in Los Angeles to finding our beautiful Pinewood Lake / Pole Hill community. The breakout session detailed the tools our neighborhood has available to ensure that every resident stays informed, prepared, and safe when it matters most. When we moved to Pinewood Lake five years ago, we fell in love with this beautiful area and the incredible people who live here. Coming from

On May 30, 2026, the Pinewood Lake Wildfire Action Group, in conjunction with the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management, hosted an Evacuation Exercise for our community. First we want to thank everyone who participated in the event; there were over 70 neighbors, partners and volunteers who made this event spectacular. Special thanks to Camille Millard, the Preparedness and Resiliency Coordinator for the Office of Emergency Management, for spearheading the event and al

Posted by Lisa Coalwell Loveland Fire Rescue Authority Board Meeting Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 1:30 PM On Wednesday, April 29, the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority board members will be discussing the proposed 2027 budget -- which is a $9,900,000 increase over the 2026 budget -- as well as deciding on ways to search for a new fire chief, and how much that search will cost. You can see the 129-page information packet the board members will use at the meeting, as well as the a

On last weeks GMRS Net, neighbor Mike O. provided some great Fire Safety tips. Here is a summary of that conversation. The greatest probability of any of us encountering fire near our homes comes from ignition sources within our homes. Before anything else, make sure your egress pathways and doors are not cluttered or difficult to open—your ability to escape quickly is critical. Have adequate fire extinguishers and fire extinguishing blankets readily available Clean your woo

4-2-26: Posted by Gib and Lisa Coalwell What is a Neighborhood Buddy System for Emergencies? The Buddy System is a way for neighbors to check on each other during an emergency situation. What do Buddies do? During an emergency, neighborhood buddies contact each other to make sure each person is aware of the emergency, and to see if anyone in the group needs help. Contact methods: Phone calls, texts, emails, Pinewood Slack group, Pinewood GMRS radios, physical visit Help that

Properly maintained equipment is the backbone of effective wildfire mitigation. Whether you are clearing brush around your home or helping with a larger community project, knowing how to handle a chainsaw safely and efficiently is a critical skill. As a pre-conference opportunity for the Colorado Wildland Fire Conference , a full-day, hands-on classroom session is coming to Fort Collins this April. This course is designed to take the guesswork out of operation and ensure you

3-25-26 (updated 4-27-26): Posted by Lisa Coalwell The Loveland Fire Rescue Authority has two governing boards: The "Rural" Board The Loveland Rural Fire Protection District Board (LRFPD) handles tax money collected from rural residents for the fire department (the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority). This map shows how large the rural tax base is (pink areas are in the city, all other colored areas are designated as rural): Under an intergovernmental agreement, the Rural board

3-25-26: Posted by Lisa Coalwell Updated 5-6-26 by Lisa Coalwell Updated 5-27-26 by Lisa Coalwell Update The Larimer County Commissioners voted to extend the current fire restrictions to July 21, 2026 (please see previous update below for what is banned and allowed). Personal-use fireworks permissible by state law (such as snakes, sparklers, fountains, spinners, smoke bombs) are still allowed on private property in unincorporated Larimer County, but could be banned if condit

Full post includes updates on Fire Chief Sendelbach and LFRA Board UPDATED 3-20-26 by Lisa Coalwell Chief Sendelbach and the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority have jointly negotiated a separation agreement. Here is the link to the Reporter-Herald article: https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=30b34240-aaa1-4c7e-93d7-d19197f55a80&v=sdk&appcode=REP439&eguid=67d3e6ab-75e4-4e48-87b0-9bd34dcdad75&pnum=1# If this link does not work and you would lik

Complied by Angie Robbins and Lisa Coalwell Let's face it -- assembling a "Go Bag" for an emergency evacuation isn't fun. It's an in-your-face reminder that a wildfire is a real possibility. It's easier to get started, though, with this quick-and-easy (and effective) "Emergency Supply Kit" list from the Larimer County website. https://www.larimer.gov/emergency/evacuees If you'd like to create a more complete and extensive Go Bag, check out the websites listed below. There

Compiled 3-12-26 by Lisa Coalwell With high winds come possible power outages. Be ready by checking out these resources: Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association's Outage page: https://pvrea.coop/outages-safety/outages/ Sign up for outage alerts Report an outage Check the Outage map: https://pvrea.outagemap.coop/ Larimer County's Power Outage Safety page: https://www.larimer.gov/emergency/power-outage-safety Learn what to do if you or family members depend on energy-dependen

Updated 4-15-26 Wildfire mitigation is crucial for our community. Creating and maintaining "defensible space" around structures is the single most effective action we can take to protect our properties. The Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) is now providing us with a new way to get slash out of our community. The Community Slash Bin Program When you thin out dense vegetation, remove dead trees, or clear brush from your property, you are left with a large amount of materia

In Pinewood Lake, Pole Hill neighborhoods we know that when it comes to mountain living, information is our best defense. To keep our community safe and informed, we rely on two primary pillars of communication: our GMRS Radio network and our neighborhood Slack workspace. While our GMRS radios are our lifeline for voice communication and backup during power outages, Slack serves as our digital hub for real-time data, resource sharing, and automated safety alerts. 1. The Perf

Wildfire preparedness is a community effort, and the residents of Green Mountain Drive recently proved just how effective—and simple—that effort can be. In a fantastic display of neighborhood collaboration, residents banded together to clear hazardous woody debris from their properties, utilizing a valuable resource provided by the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA): Community Slash Bins . A Neighborhood Success Story The project was a resounding success. Working together,

Colorado is known for its soaring peaks and rugged landscapes, but the foundation supporting our "Colorful Colorado" lifestyle is showing some wear and tear. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Colorado Section recently released its 2025 Report Card for Colorado’s Infrastructure , and the results offer a sobering look at the systems we rely on every day. Here's a compilation from the report, with the ASCE's comments and suggestions: Overall, Colorado received a C-