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Understanding Our Loveland Fire Rescue Two-Board System
3-25-26: 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 pays 20 percent o
pinewoodlakewag
2 days ago1 min read
Fire Restrictions in Effect from March 25 - May 5 2026
3-25-26: Posted by Lisa Coalwell The Larimer County Commissioners have enacted these fire restrictions through May 5, 2026: RESTRICTED TODAY: Uncontained Open Fires Smoking in the open is not allowed, including on trails, parks and open spaces ALLOWED: Fireplaces or wood stoves located inside a residence Gas-fueled fires, including grills and camping stoves Camping and cooking fires in developed camping areas Fires in permanently constructed masonry fire pits For more informa
pinewoodlakewag
2 days ago1 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
Quick-and-Easy Go Bag
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
pinewoodlakewag
Mar 141 min read
Preparing for a Power Outage
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
pinewoodlakewag
Mar 121 min read
Communication is Key: Why Slack & GMRS Radios are Essential for Pinewood Lake
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
pinewoodlakewag
Mar 12 min read
4 Slash Bins, Zero Stress: Wildfire Mitigation Success on Green Mountain Drive
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,
pinewoodlakewag
Feb 272 min read
Colorado’s 2025 Infrastructure Report Card
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-
pinewoodlakewag
Feb 273 min read
Home Insurance: Rocky Mountain PBS Report (Video)
From Rocky Mountain PBS: Homeowners in Colorado face difficult decisions when it comes to insuring their home. With increasing fires and more intensive hail, Rocky Mountain PBS and Colorado Public Radio look into the looming crisis — and what the state government is doing to address it. Click here to watch the 26-minute video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=50g8k7FaLOE&t=48s Here is an AI summary of the video: This video, titled "Undercovered: Colorad
pinewoodlakewag
Feb 262 min read
County Assessor Error - Your Tax Dollars!
Back on August 26, several neighborhoods voted to be added in the LFRA Inclusion zone, to provide additional financial support, through taxes, to our local fire departments. A condition of that approval was that we would not be subject to taxing until 2026. However, many astute neighbors noticed that their 2025 tax bill were revised to include the assessment for the previous tax year. Below is a statement from the LRFPD ensuring that this error will be corrected: “… the prope
pinewoodlakewag
Feb 152 min read
Your Voice Needed on Larimer County’s Wildfire Plan by February 13
As many of us know, living in the beautiful landscape of Larimer County comes with a shared responsibility: being prepared for wildfire. Recent data from the U.S. Forest Service highlights just how critical this is—Larimer County faces a higher wildfire likelihood than 92% of counties nationwide . In response, Larimer County is currently updating its Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) , and they want to hear from us. Why Does This Plan Matter to Our Neighborhood? The C
pinewoodlakewag
Feb 52 min read
Mountain Lion Awareness (from GMRS Net)
Every Thursday evening at 7:00 PM MST , our community gathers on the airwaves for our GMRS community net . This weekly forum is a vital space for neighbors to test their equipment, practice radio etiquette, and stay informed through local announcements. In our session this evening, we had 11 check-ins . It was great to hear everyone’s voices as we worked through several critical safety updates for our area. 📢 Key Announcements & Exercises 1. 2026 Evacuation Drill We spent t
pinewoodlakewag
Jan 152 min read
Announcing the 2026 Larimer County Community Mitigation Grant Cycle!
The following message is from Josh Roberts Mitigation Coordinator / EOC Planning Section Chief. Larimer County is officially now accepting applications for the 2026 Community Mitigation Grant (CMG) program. The Community Mitigation Grant program is designed to spark grassroots efforts for mitigation activities. By focusing on the neighborhood scale, this program helps build vital momentum for long-term risk reduction work across our community. Program Details & Eligibilit
pinewoodlakewag
Jan 121 min read
Is Your Fire Extinguisher Ready? The Essential Guide to Recharging and Maintenance
When a fire breaks out, every second counts. You reach for your fire extinguisher, pull the pin, and squeeze the lever—but nothing happens. This is a nightmare scenario that is entirely preventable. According to the safety experts at the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) , ensuring your fire extinguisher is properly serviced and recharged is a critical component of home and business safety. In this post, we’ll break down why recharging is necessary and how to ensure your
pinewoodlakewag
Jan 63 min read
⚠️ High Wind and Fire Weather Alert - Updated ⚠️
This page will be updated as quickly as possible: December 19, 2025 @ unknown - PVREA fixed down line. December 19, 2025 @ 10:42AM MST - Line down from tree at 18E & Skinner Gulch, 1 home impacted, PVREA enroute. December 19, 2025 @ 10:00AM MST - Debris reported on 18E from winds. December 19, 2025 @ 8:00AM MST - Informal GMRS Emergency Net started. D ecember 19, 2025 @ 7:30AM MST - Email sent to neighbors. December 19, 2025 @ 2:17AM MST - High Wind Warning Issued by NWS Denv
pinewoodlakewag
Dec 16, 20253 min read
LFRA Community Slash Bins Available
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 material (slash) that m
pinewoodlakewag
Nov 25, 20252 min read
LFRA Extended Service Area Town Hall at Pinewood
November 17, 2025: Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach recently addressed over 50 members of the Pole Hill and Pinewood Lake communities at a Town Hall, formally welcoming residents to the LFRA Extended Service Area . The presentation detailed the critical reasons behind the expansion, the services residents can expect, and the potential impact on safety and insurance. For a copy of the Power Point Presentation click here . The Critical "Why" Behin
pinewoodlakewag
Nov 19, 20253 min read
Cooler temps and snow will mark return of winter pile burning season
The following news release is from the US Forest Service. FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Nov. 14, 2025) – Fire managers on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests are preparing for pile burning season this winter. Current and forecasted weather conditions may create favorable pile burning conditions over the next several months. Pile burning is a type of prescribed fire that helps remove woody debris from the forests, reducing the potential of more impactful, unplanned fire activ
pinewoodlakewag
Nov 16, 20252 min read
Wildfire Risk Drives Home Insurance Costs Sky-High
A new report from Colorado State University (CSU) confirms what many homeowners already fear: the cost of insuring a home in the Centennial State is soaring, fueled primarily by the increasing threat of wildfires . According to the analysis by CSU’s Regional Economic Development Institute (REDI) , Colorado is now ranked as the sixth-costliest state in the nation for homeowners’ insurance. The steep increase is hitting wallets hard, especially in areas susceptible to fire dan
pinewoodlakewag
Oct 23, 20252 min read
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