NEDERLAND — The Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) Board of Directors met on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, to discuss the progress of several of the District’s collaborative projects with municipal partners. But first, Directors were updated about the recent uptick in calls, consisting mostly of illegal campfires and vehicle accidents.  

Calls of Significance 

 NFPD Chief Charlie Schmidtmann reported to the Board on some of the 47 calls of significance answered by District personnel since mid-May, totaling 217 calls so far this year. 

Firefighters responded to six illegal campfires, to several reports of smoke at the Sort Yard while they were processing material, and to a structure fire in Nederland that was started by an arcing wall outlet and was quickly controlled by Captain Nick Faes.

Medical personnel attended to a patient suffering a major cardiac issue who walked into the fire station, and to a patient suffering a drug overdose near the RTD Park and Ride. They also assisted with a cardiac arrest in the Town of Eldora, during which a Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was able to wake the unconscious patient. 

Both firefighters and medical personnel responded to multiple accidents on the mountain highways, including two accidents at Boulder Falls, a rollover along the Peak to Peak Highway at Pomo Way, another rollover on Caribou Road, and a cyclist on the Peak to Peak Highway who required medical attention. 

Schmidtmann added that, with the influx of tourist traffic, the NFPD have been called out several times over the last month to lift vehicles out of the canyon and off the side of the highways. 

 Recruitment

 Schmidtmann, along with District Administrator Sherry Snyder, reported on progress regarding volunteer recruitment and the District’s current hiring for Fire Captain and Paramedic. 

Volunteer orientation began on June 14, with a total of eight new recruits in attendance. There were 21 total applicants, many of whom were eliminated due to “lack of communication,” as well as two applicants who failed the required Pack Test—a three-mile walk carrying a 45 pound pack that must be completed within 45 minutes—conducted by Captains Faes and Glen Wheelock.

Wheelock was also mentioned for his work hosting the new volunteer orientation and wildland course, which Schmidtmann noted had the volunteers excited for the next following weeks. 

As for the District’s search for full-time hires, several interviews were conducted June 5 and June 8, with one applicant passing through to the next level of the process, which involves a one-on-one interview with Schmidtmann and a ride-along with an on-duty captain. 

All in all, Schmidtmann reported over 20 interviews having been conducted over the last month, and thanked those involved in the process, including Snyder, Faes, and Wheelock, as well as Firefighters Carpenter, Olivas, and Powell. 

Schmidtmann also recognized his crew for all the training courses they have taught over the last month, including hose training, progressive hose lays, cistern training, and Hantavirus control. Firefighter Briscombe was also congratulated on becoming certified as an Emergency Medical Technician. 

Laundry list 

Schmidtmann, Snyder, and Fire Marshal Andrew Joslin all reported on the progress of many of the District’s projects and collaborations, including the collaboration between the NFPD and Boulder Watershed Collective to provide residents within the District with regulation address signage. 

With only 10 more pre-ordered signs left to be picked up, Schmidtmann, Joslin, and Alex Biscardi have been working to install the signs for all 66 residents who asked for the service. The team has completed over half of the installations already.  

Marshal Joslin’s monthly report noted the collaborative work being done with the Boulder County Planning Department regarding “emergency turnaround issues” with homes within the District, many of which are attempting to reapply with the County for short-term rental permits. 

Joslin also commended Nederland Community Planner Britt DeMinck, Town Attorney Jennifer Madsen, and SAFEBuilt for their work over the last year in getting the 2024 package of codes passed by the Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT). These include Codes for International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation,  Property Maintenance, Existing Building, and Fire.

As for other NFPD and BOT collaborations, there are currently two different intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) on the table waiting to be drafted and brought to a final vote for approval.

The District is currently working with the Town to finish the IGA for a burn building to be built on Town property at the Town’s Public Works Yard on Ridge Road, and an IGA for District personnel to conduct fire mitigation work on Town-owned properties.  

Both agreements are expected to be brought before the BOT for discussion and potential vote in the near future. 

 The Nederland Fire Protection District Board of Directors meets on the third Wednesday of every month. Meetings can be attended online via Microsoft Teams. Their next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 15, at 7 p.m. 

For more information go to nfpd.org.