LFRA Extended Service Area Town Hall - Nov. 17, 2015

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" Behind the LFRA Expansion

Chief Sendelbach outlined several key factors necessitating the expansion of the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority's service area:

• High-Risk Area: Colorado is currently classified as a High-Risk region for fire incidents.

• Area Fire History: The need for comprehensive fire protection is underlined by recent, major fire events, including the Alexander Mtn Fire (2024) , the Cameron Peak Fire (2020) , and the High Park Fire (2012).

• Insurance: Joining the service area can potentially have a positive effect on insurance, improving affordability and access for residents.

• Pre-Emergency Services (Prevention): The move ensures residents gain access to essential prevention services.

The Pinewood area, specifically noted for inclusion, encompasses 5.48 square miles and includes 88 homes across 98 parcels.

The Chief included a brief history of how the LFRA came into being and who the board members are that he reports to, as well as how they get and use their funding.

Enhanced Service and Risk Reduction

A central component of the new service area is the promise of improved response capabilities and a focus on living safely in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).

Wildfire Mitigation Program The community’s increased fire protection is supported directly by the efforts of Lt. Matt DeDecker, Wildfire Program Coordinator. Lt. DeDecker, leads the LFRA’s Wildfire Mitigation program. This program provides residents access to vital Risk Reduction Services, including the Slash Bin Program, Curtain Burner, new Chipper and critical information on creating defensible space, outlined in the Resident Action Plan and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).

LFRA is committed to providing Community Education & Engagement, a role championed by January Windell, Community Education & Engagement Specialist. Ms. Windell coordinates public education and outreach, ensuring residents have access to resources, safety tips, and opportunities to learn about fire prevention and emergency preparedness.

Rapid Response & Insurance Service Office (ISO) Rating (the lower the rating number, the better) - LFRA's goal is to provide a 5-Minute Response Time from its stations and surrounding district stations to its service area. That response time is one of the main criteria of the ISO rating. The City of Loveland is within that response time, and has an ISO Rating 2 (Green on the map), while the Rural District has an ISO Rating 3 (Yellow) for properties within 5 road miles of a fire station. However, the Pinewood and Pole Hill neighborhood has an ISO rating of 10 (shown in RED), mainly because our community is located further than 5 miles from a station. The chief is committed to working on solutions to improve our Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating.

The Chief outlined the best way to get further information or contact Lt. Matt DeDecker is to visit the www.LFRA.org website, click on Our Services and Community Wildfire Preparedness.

For a copy of the Power Point Presentation click here.

Thank you Chief Sendelbach, Lt. DeDecker & January Windell for coming out to speak to our community and for all you do to keep our community safe.

Thank you to everyone who showed up and all the great questions.

Thank you to the Powell's for hosting the event and providing refreshments.