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LFRA Updates

  • Writer: pinewoodlakewag
    pinewoodlakewag
  • Mar 16
  • 8 min read

Updated: Mar 20

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:



If this link does not work and you would like to read the article, please contact me at lisacoalwell@gmail.com


UPDATED 3-16-26 by Lisa Coalwell


There are two boards within the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority, and the actions of both boards affect our Pinewood community.


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 of the fire department's annual budget, while the city pays the remaining 80 percent. Two of the members of the Rural board serve as representatives on the Authority board.


The five-member Rural board has hired a district manager outside of the Authority who is employed by Public Alliance, a Denver-based company. Recently, all communication between the rural residents and the Rural board members has gone through this district manager, Dominique Devaney. dominique@publicalliancellc.com


The "Authority" Board

The Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) board was created in 2012 when the Rural District and the City of Loveland joined together to create a joint firefighting entity. This fire authority serves both the city and rural areas, and is governed by a five-member board made up of two representatives from the Rural board, the Loveland City Manager, and two city councilors (currently, one of those positions is held by the Loveland City Mayor).


Rural Board Meeting, Wednesday, March 18 at 3 p.m., Loveland Public Library; in-person and online

This monthly meeting was rescheduled from March 11, and is the first meeting the board has had since January 14, 2026 (the February meeting was cancelled).


NOTE: This meeting Zoom is not working. Use the Call in number: (719) 359-4580 with Meeting ID of 865 8960 7977 press #, then # again and you will be an attendee.



Authority Board Meeting, Thursday, March 19, 1 p.m., Online only

This is the special meeting to continue discussing the possible termination of Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach. The Authority Board met in executive session on March 12, and postponed the rest of the meeting until Thursday, March 19. The agenda and link for that meeting is here:



UPDATED: 3/12/26 by Lisa Coalwell


The LFRA Board met virtually from 2-4 p.m. in executive session on March 12, and said they had a lot of information, but not enough time. They postponed the rest of the meeting until Thursday, March 19 at 1 p.m., which will also be virtual. The agenda and link for that meeting should be posted here:


UPDATED: 3/11/26 by Lisa Coalwell


According to The Reporter-Herald, the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) board "unanimously approved a motion for the personnel committee, made up of Chairman Jeff Swanty and City Manager Jim Thompson, to work with legal counsel to prepare a final decision terminating the fire chief’s employment with LFRA."


There will be a special meeting of the LFRA board tomorrow to "discuss and consider final action on the Fire Chief personnel matter," according to the agenda published here: https://lfra.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03122026-239


There is no public-comment time in the agenda, and the meeting will be held online only.


The next meeting of the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority board is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026. The agenda for that meeting has not yet been published, but should be on this page when it is posted:


The agenda for the Loveland Rural Fire Protection District Board (LRFPD/Rural Board) meeting rescheduled to Wednesday, March 18, 2026 has not yet been published, but should be on this page when it is posted:



Why are we reporting on the meetings for both the LFRA and LRFPD/Rural boards?

Although the LFRA board initiated the process to terminate Chief Sendelbach, he reported to both the LFRA and LRFPD/Rural boards, and two of the members on the LRFPD/Rural board (Jeff Swanty and Paul Bukowski) also serve on the LFRA board.


In addition, the LRFPD/Rural board decides how the tax money collected from rural residents will be spent, other than the 20 percent of the total Loveland Fire Rescue Authority budget the Rural board is required to allocate.


UPDATED: 3/10/2026 by Lisa Coalwell


Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) Board Meeting on Wednesday, March 11 at 9 a.m.

An LFRA board member had to have a medical procedure this past week, resulting in that member not being able to attend today's scheduled meeting. By mutual agreement of the board and Chief Sendelbach, that meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 9 a.m.


Here's is the agenda with the online link for the March 11 meeting:


Loveland Rural Fire Protection District Board Meeting RESCHEDULED to Wednesday, March 81 at 3 p.m.

The Loveland Rural Fire Protection District board has rescheduled its monthly meeting to Wednesday, March 18, starting at 3 p.m. The agenda and meeting link should be posted here soon:



UPDATED: 3/4/2026 by Lisa Coalwell


The March 3, 2026 face-to-face meeting between Chief Sendelbach and the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority board lasted about two hours.


Afterward, according to the Reporter-Herald newspaper, the chief "said his conversation with the board was productive and civil. He said he was given the chance to provide clarity in areas the board was looking for, and that they also discussed how they ended up at this point and steps to potentially move forward."


The newspaper quoted the chief as saying, "Nobody came in there with a chip on their shoulder. It was a good conversation and a conversation that I think was much needed."


There were no comments in the Reporter-Herald from the board members after the meeting.


According to Sendelbach's contract, the board has five days from that meeting to make a decision.


An online-only special board meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 6 at 5 p.m. According to the Reporter-Herald, the purpose of the meeting is for the board to meet with legal counsel in a closed executive session, and to discuss possible action regarding the chief.


This is the link to the March 6 agenda, which includes a link to join the online meeting: https://lfra.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03062026-233


The board will open the meeting and go into executive session. When they return from executive session, the members may simply adjourn the meeting, or they may make an announcement.



UPDATED: 3/3/2026 by Pete Robbins - Special Meeting held March 3rd


The Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) Board held a Special Meeting, March 3, 2026, at 9:00 AM, primarily to address the potential termination of Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach.


Dozens showed up March 3rd to support the Chief.
Dozens showed up March 3rd to support the Chief.

While official minutes or a final decision from today's session have not yet been posted, the following public information is available regarding the meeting and the ongoing situation:


Meeting Purpose and Agenda

  • Chief Sendelbach Discussion: The purpose was specifically to meet with Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach to discuss the Board's "Notice of Intent to Terminate" his employment agreement.


Context of the Meeting

  • Notice of Intent to Terminate: In mid-February 2026, the LFRA Board unanimously approved sending Chief Sendelbach a letter of intent to terminate his contract, citing "just cause".

  • The Chief's Response: Chief Sendelbach submitted a formal 40-page written response to the board ahead of this meeting. In it, he "unequivocally" denied allegations of intentionally misleading the board or withholding financial data, instead characterizing the conflict as a "strained" working relationship.

  • Previous Postponement: This meeting was originally scheduled for February 20, 2026, but was postponed to today to allow the Chief more time to prepare his response.


Public Sentiment

  • Staff and Community Support: During previous meetings in February, department members and local residents expressed significant support for Chief Sendelbach.

  • Transparency Concerns: Some community members have voiced concerns on regarding the board's transparency, specifically criticizing the use of virtual-only formats for these sensitive discussions.


Next Steps: Per the Chief's employment contract, the Board is typically expected to issue a written decision within five business days following an executive session of this nature. Another Special Meeting is currently scheduled for Friday, March 6, 2026, which may serve as a follow-up to today's proceedings.


~Pete Robbins



UPDATE: 2/16/2026 - There is now an online petition available. Click Here


Neighbors,


Our community is at a critical crossroads regarding our fire and emergency services. As many of you know, the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) Board is moving toward the permanent termination of Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach.


If you support Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach and want to ensure our voices as rural residents and taxpayers are heard, we are placing a Citizens’ Petition for Reinstatement at the community mailboxes starting today.


Here is a summary of the timeline regarding Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach and the current status of the petition to help you inform your neighbors and meet the February 23rd deadline.


Timeline of Events


  • January 28, 2026: The LFRA Board placed Chief Sendelbach on paid administrative leave following a regularly scheduled meeting. No public explanation was provided for this decision.


  • January 31, 2026: In response, over 75% of LFRA staff (firefighters and administrative personnel) began circulating an internal letter of No Confidence in the LFRA Board.


  • February 4, 2026: Chief Sendelbach announced he would not resign, despite being given a deadline by the board to do so or face termination.


  • February 9, 2026: During a virtual special meeting attended by nearly 300 people, the board voted to continue the termination process. They also formally ratified the personnel committee’s earlier actions, including the appointment of an Acting Chief.


  • February 12, 2026: The board held another special meeting to finalize a formal "letter of intent to terminate". Per his contract, the Chief now has the right to a closed executive session to present an appeal before a final public vote is taken.


The Petition for Reinstatement of the Fire Chief is a formal declaration by residents and property owners expressing NO CONFIDENCE in the LFRA Board's current leadership decisions.


Formal Demands of the Petition:


  • Immediate reinstatement of Chief Tim Sendelbach.


  • Corrective action to restore stability, transparency, and accountability within the LFRA.


  • Prioritizing the best interests of the firefighters and the community they serve.


Important Action Items


  • Signing the Petition: To ensure your voice is heard before the next phase of deliberations, please sign the petition located at the community mailboxes on Pole Hill/18E & Saddle Notch & Skinner Gulch before Friday, February 23rd.


  • Eligibility: All residents and property owners within the LFRA service area are encouraged to sign.


  • Upcoming Meetings: The next regular LFRA Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25th at 1:30 p.m. at the Fire Administration Building.


If you have any questions, concerns or comments please email communications@plwag.org

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