LFRA Inclusion Proposal Election to be held August 26
- pinewoodlakewag
- Jun 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 3
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, Storm Mountain, Buckskin Heights, and Fletcher Hill will have a chance to vote August 26, 2025 on whether they would like to be included in those boundaries, as determined by a majority vote. Each area is separate, so Pinewood residents who are eligible electors living in the proposed inclusion area (see map) will be determining only what will happen in the area designated as the Pinewood inclusion area.
If residents approve the inclusion, the mill levy will start in the 2026 tax year (payable in 2027).
Discussion during the meeting included these points:
*If a fire breaks out, the LFRA will respond, even if a property is not in the boundary, but the agency has no responsibility to do so, and takes on the liability and risk of going outside its jurisdiction.
*Properties outside the LFRA boundaries will be covered by Larimer County’s Emergency Services. Here is the county’s website description of that team:
Our Emergency Services Team consists of 19 full-time positions, and maintains a list of over 300 volunteers. Our 4 Emergency Services Specialists act as the main point of contact for everyone under their purview, including Larimer County Search and Rescue, Larimer County Dive Rescue Team, Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol, the Initial Attack Module (consisting of 8 full time firefighters), the on-call firefighter program, the Wildfire Partner Program, and the Emergency Medical Cadre, to name a few.
These teams manage a whole host of incidents across all 2,634 mi² of Larimer County, from search and rescue calls, to injured climbers, backcountry avalanches to cars in rivers, raging wildfires to wildfire prevention, and beyond. Working with a group of wonderful volunteer and partner agencies, we are able to provide these incredible services to the citizens and tourists of Larimer County alike. Our crews are also frequently requested throughout the state and country.
*Fire insurance:
The LFRA has an assessment process that results in a document residents can give to their insurance companies to show the mitigation work they have completed.
One resident who had to find a new insurer said the first question from insurance brokers was if her property was within a fire-protection district.
Colorado House Bill 25-1182 addresses many issues between insurance companies and residents, including the ability to appeal an insurer’s decision, and this requirement:
If an insurer does not incorporate property-specific and community-level mitigation actions into its models, the act requires the insurer to provide discounts to policyholders who demonstrate actions taken on the property to reduce the risk of loss.
*County valuation of homes has increased dramatically over the years, thus increasing the taxes levied, and many residents are on fixed incomes.
*Many residents are already doing their own mitigation.
*Inclusion would mean possible additional grants, and access to the LFRA’s seasonal mitigation team, based on highest degree of risk and need. A resident asked about controlled burns, which are confined to the winter season; with new equipment such as the Air Curtain Burner and LFRA chipper, the goal is to do mitigation year-round.
*The 11.186 mill levy would mean a little over $2 a day for a $1 million home in additional costs.
*About $900,000 in mitigation services has been added (people and equipment), funded by residents in the current LFRA boundaries. Additional improvements needed to address mitigation in the whole county cannot be provided if there are not enough funds.
*If areas vote not to be included, the residents in the current boundaries would be paying for any services the out-of-boundary residents might receive. A board member pointed out that 75% of the people in the current LFRA boundaries do not live in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), but their taxes help fund the mitigation and firefighting for the WUI area.
The election is scheduled for August 26, 2025 at Station 7, 2629 N. County Road 27 (the Masonville Road), just north of Big Thompson Elementary School. Hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
August 19 is the last day to request an absentee ballot (close of business on Tuesday preceding election). This ballot must be postmarked or transmitted electronically by 7:00 p.m. on the day of election.
Resources:
Map of Proposed Inclusion Boundaries (attached)
Board Packet for June 11, 2025 Meeting
~Respectfully submitted by Lisa Coalwell
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