The Pinewood Lake Wildfire Action Group (PLWAG) is excited to announce our brand-new Precipitation Page! This new resource features live tracking from a local monitoring station (Station CO-LR-1322) through CoCoRaHS (the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network), giving everyone in our community an easy way to check current month-to-date and year-to-date precipitation totals right here at Pinewood Lake. A Brief History of CoCoRaHS Where did this incredible network

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds Coloradans to lock up trash and food sources as bear activity peaks this fall. June 21, 2025 - American Black Bear - Pole Hill community As fall weather settles across Colorado, black bears enter hyperphagia–a natural phase of increased activity and intense eating to prepare their bodies to survive the winter. Bears will be traveling up to 20 hours per day in search of food and chance encounters are likely to increase. Colorado Parks and Wi

New Loveland Fire Rescue Authority Fire Chief Paul Claflin is shown here talking with Pinewood resident Barb Shell. (Reporter-Herald photo) Paul Claflin will start his position of Loveland Fire Rescue Authority's fire chief on Monday, November 2. Here's some background information on Claflin, provided by the LFRA at the September 14 public reception: Paul Claflin currently serves as Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firea

Every September, FEMA’s Ready Campaign hosts National Preparedness Month to remind individuals, families, and communities that taking small proactive steps today makes a massive difference when disaster strikes. This year’s national campaign theme, “Americans Stand Ready,” highlights a core truth: preparedness is a shared responsibility. By taking action to safeguard our homes and loved ones, we support the work of first responders and build a more resilient nation. A compreh

9-8-26 Update According to the Loveland Reporter-Herald newspaper, the Larimer County Commissioners voted to reduce the current fire restrictions to Stage 1 through November 3, 2026. The paper states that "Stage 1 restrictions allow for a number of fire uses that have been prohibited for most of the summer, including fires in designated firepits at established campgrounds. Also allowed now are outdoor cooking equipment as well as charcoal grills and backyard firepits." Camp

United Policyholders, a U.S. non-profit organization, describes their mission: "To be a trustworthy and useful information resource and a respected voice for consumers of all types of insurance across the United States. We don’t sell insurance or take money from insurance companies. We give you the straight scoop….Guide you on buying insurance and navigating claims…Fight for your rights." They recently worked with the Fire Adapted Colorado (FACO) Network to put on a free webi

“My kid is camping over 100 miles away. Is there a two-way radio we can use to stay in touch?” The short answer is not easily, not cheaply and definitely not right out of the box. At 100 miles, the Earth's curvature and rugged terrain stand directly in your path. Standard handheld consumer radios rely on direct line-of-sight. Bridging that distance without commercial cellular networks requires specialized frequencies, linked infrastructure, or satellite uplinks. Pinewood Lake

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

🦊 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

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

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