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Our Bears are Different
Why are the bears in our area "different"? This article from the Reporter-Herald explains how the bears in the Estes Park and Estes Valley area -- which the Pinewood area adjoins -- have adapted to living with less natural food and more people. The bears of Rocky Mountain National Park are unlike most in Colorado. Here’s why Presentation by Rachel and Andy Ames looks at how Estes Park-area bears adapt to changing conditions By Jeffrey Bear | jbear@prairiemountainmedia.com PU
pinewoodlakewag
Aug 155 min read
Camping at Pinewood, 1976-Style
This photo from the May 31, 1976 Reporter-Herald newspaper shows just how much camping at Pinewood has changed in the last 50 years!
pinewoodlakewag
Aug 121 min read
Please Don't Feed the Foxes!
🦊 KEEP OUR FOXES WILD & OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE! Please do not intentionally or unintentionally feed the foxes in our area. While it may seem like a kind gesture, feeding wild foxes creates serious risks for both the animals and our community. ⚠️ WHY FEEDING FOXES HARMS THEM Loss of Fear: Foxes quickly learn to associate humans with food, making them lose their natural wariness. Increased Danger: Overconfident foxes will approach people, cars, and homes, drastically increasing
pinewoodlakewag
Aug 111 min read
Larimer County Landfill on Taft Hill Closed as of August 3, 2026; Services Moving to West Trilby Road
The Larimer County Landfill, 5887 Taft Hill Road, will be closed permanently to public use as of Monday, August 3, 2026. Residents need to use the nearby Central Diversion & Transfer Station at 2388 West Trilby Road. For details, please click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bVulOp8yky3l-i93jXvRReBmXkQ9c5_T/view Posted by Lisa Coalwell, July 31, 2026
pinewoodlakewag
Jul 311 min read
Fire Restrictions Extended Through September 8, 2026
7-21-26 Update The Larimer County Commissioners voted to extend the current fire restrictions to September 8, 2026. This information on the current extension and fireworks use is from the Larimer County "Spotlights" page ( https://www.larimer.gov/spotlights/2026/07/21/larimer-county-extends-fire-restrictions ): Larimer County extends fire restrictions On recommendation by the Larimer County Sheriff, the Board of Larimer County Commissioners voted 2- 0 on Tuesday to extend fir
pinewoodlakewag
Jul 212 min read
Bears are Active in Our Community
There have been many bear sightings in the Pinewood area lately, as food sources for the animals dry up and they turn to "people" food, including trash cans, bird feeders, grills, and vehicles with food residue inside (even a simple air freshener will attract them). This flyer has tips for co-existing with our bruin neighbors: Posted by Lisa Coalwell, 7-16-26
pinewoodlakewag
Jul 191 min read
Equine Evacuation: Planning Ahead
Evacuating large animals isn't easy. This information from the Colorado Horse Rescue has some good tips to help horse owners plan ahead. Posted by Lisa Coalwell on 7-19-26
pinewoodlakewag
Jul 191 min read
PLWAG Takes Center Stage in the Reporter-Herald!
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
pinewoodlakewag
Jun 181 min read
GMRS 2 Year Anniversary
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
pinewoodlakewag
Jun 182 min read
Tularemia in Colorado – What Neighbors Need to Know
Thanks to everyone who checked in to our weekly Community GMRS NET! Our "Safety and Awareness" discussion segment sparked some excellent dialogue. For those who missed it or couldn't catch the full transmission, we centered our discussion around a recent warning from Colorado public health officials. A dead rabbit in Larimer County tested positive for Tularemia (commonly known as "Rabbit Fever"). Because many of our neighbors are avid hikers, campers, hunters, and folks with
pinewoodlakewag
Jun 183 min read
Hantavirus Awareness
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.
pinewoodlakewag
Jun 134 min read
Evacuation Exercise -- Buddy Groups
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
pinewoodlakewag
Jun 132 min read
Evacuation Exercise - Communications Breakout
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
pinewoodlakewag
Jun 134 min read
Pinewood Lake Evacuation Exercise
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
pinewoodlakewag
May 312 min read
April 29 Meeting: Fire Authority Board to discuss 2027 budget and costs/plans for hiring new fire chief
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
pinewoodlakewag
Apr 271 min read
GMRS Net Topic - Fire Safety Notes
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
pinewoodlakewag
Apr 121 min read
Neighborhood Buddy System for Emergencies
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
pinewoodlakewag
Apr 21 min read
Chainsaw Safety & Maintenance Workshop
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
pinewoodlakewag
Apr 12 min read
Understanding Our Loveland Fire Rescue Two-Board System
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
pinewoodlakewag
Mar 252 min read
LFRA Updates
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
pinewoodlakewag
Mar 168 min read
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