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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Larimer County recently hosted a public engagement workshop via webinar on October 9th , providing insight into the ongoing update of the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. If you missed the virtual meeting, here are the key takeaways on why this structured planning process is vital for building a more prepared and resilient community. What is Hazard Mitigation and Why Costs Are Rising At its core, Hazard Mitigation  is defined as sustained action taken to reduce or

It was 6:41 PM, September 2nd. Angie and I were just about ready to sit down for dinner, when a random photo of mountains shows up on my phone. Looking closer I could see a plume of smoke. I reply, “Where is that?” The response sent chills. Stone Mountain Fire - 6:41PM “Coming home just now, at the end of Pinewood dam, looking NorthWest.” It was just over a year ago, July 18, 2024, several neighborhood Hams, led by Eric R. and Dennis B., installed a GMRS Repeater just North o

Hi, Neighbors! As the "Bear Aware" contact for Pinewood, I wanted to pass on this information from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPE) about our bear neighbors' habits as the nights get cooler and Fall approaches. Check out the amount of calories those bears will be packing on to make it through the winter (in  bold blue text )!   I've added some tips I've learned below the information from the CPW, and would love to hear any suggestions you might have!  Please reply to me -- I

The Pinewood Lake Wildfire Action Group (PLWAG) extends a heartfelt thank you to Eric Weedin  and Roxane Chagolla  from the Weedin Agency in Loveland, for their time and expertise. On August 19th, they met with over 60 neighbors at Belinda's barn, providing a highly informative presentation on the current state of insurance in Colorado. Their clear and detailed answers to numerous questions from community members were invaluable, shedding light on a complex and pressing issu

GMRS Repeater & Antenna Installation July 18, 2024 On July 18, 2024 , the Pinewood Lake community took a significant step toward enhancing our emergency preparedness. With invaluable assistance from several neighborhood HAM radio operators, we successfully installed a GMRS repeater  right here in our neighborhood. GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) is a licensed radio service in the US, offering more power and range than typical FRS radios, making it ideal for robust communi

Help Build a More Resilient Larimer County! Larimer County is no stranger to challenges, and building a strong, prepared community is key to navigating future uncertainties. That's why the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has launched its 2025 Community Resilience Survey, and they need your input! Take the Larimer County Community Resilience Survey today! Larimer County Resilience Survey This vital survey is designed to gather community perspectives on what

UPDATE: LRFA Inclusion Unofficial Inclusion Election Results https://lfra.org/404/LRFPD-2025-Inclusion-Election-Informatio UPDATE: Upcoming Inclusion Election for Loveland Rural Fire Protection District Webpage: https://lfra.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=24 The Loveland Rural Fire Protection District Board voted unanimously on June 11, 2025 to hold an election to include four Larimer County areas in the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority’s (LFRA) boundaries. Residents of Pinewood, Sto

The Fourth of July is a time for celebration, but in our beautiful mountain community, it's crucial to remember the serious hazards that fireworks pose, particularly concerning wildfires. Below are some tips on being safe, rules for fireworks in Larimer County and public places where you can celebrate safely. The Dangers of Fireworks in our Mountain Community The dry conditions prevalent in mountainous terrain during the summer months create an extreme fire risk. Even seeming

Navigating Colorado Home Insurance: Key Takeaways from the United Policyholders Webinar For many Colorado residents, understanding and securing home insurance has become a complex challenge. United Policyholders, a non-profit organization dedicated to informing and empowering insurance consumers, recently hosted a crucial webinar: the "Colorado Home Insurance Shopping Help Webinar." This presentation offered valuable insights and practical advice for navigating the state's ev

We want to welcome Jim, the new Pinewood Lake Camp Host. Jim owned a local Nursery for many years and recently retired. His role is to ensure campers are in the right spots, campsites are neat and orderly, manage day-use traffic, and request rangers for rule enforcement and emergency response. Jim will be with us through at least Labor Day Weekend and he does have a GMRS radio so hopefully we will catch him on a Thursday night check-in. One additional update: the Rangers will

In 2026, we can celebrate the 50th anniversary of the name change of our beautiful community from Rattlesnake Lake to Pinewood Reservoir, but the namesake snakes are still around. Here's a great article, with videos, on how to be safe around them! Snake Safety on Colorado Trails: Rattlesnake Season Guide Know Your Snakes: Venomous Species in Colorado Where You’ll Most Likely See Snakes on the Trail Where Rattlesnakes Like to Hang Out in Colorado When Is Rattlesnake Season? W