NEDERLAND — On December 17, 2025, as the Town of Nederland braced for another bout with the breeze, a pot already simmering in the community was suddenly stirred when Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) issued an “alert” which contained no warning, but rather information regarding the Town’s air quality as a result of high winds spreading the ash and debris from the site of the Lakeview Fire. 

“With the high winds forecast for Nederland, ash and debris left behind from the Caribou Village Shopping Center fire may become airborne and could lead to potential health risks,” the alert read.

That sentence alone, to many, was seen as the “proof” that they have been clamoring for since the minute the fire was put out: that the site is allegedly toxic.

BCPH has continued to deny that there is any concern of “toxicity,” and produced some data from their air quality monitoring conducted directly after the fire. This stated that “elevated concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds while parked 25-50 meters downwind of the site” had been measured, though none of those elevated concentrations exceeded any Colorado Health Guideline Values or EPA Acute Exposure Guideline Levels.

The information provided in BCPH’s December 17 alert was similar to the information released two days after the Lakeview Fire, on October 11. 

The County encouraged residents to close windows and use air purifiers, to avoid disturbing the ash, and to remove shoes before entering their homes. They also urged residents to wear N95 masks while outdoors.

The October 11 alert stated that “some people may experience symptoms” of watery eyes, running nose, sore throat, headaches, and nausea. Air Quality Coordinator Bill Hayes warned that those experiencing symptoms may want to relocate temporarily and contact their health care provider. 

“If you smell smoke or fumes, limit outdoor activities and avoid strenuous exercise,” Hayes wrote. “We’re continuing to monitor conditions and provide guidance to help residents stay safe, especially those with respiratory sensitivities.”

By the time of BCPH’s December alert, Nederland residents were already flooding Facebook and local representatives’ inboxes with complaints regarding the remains of the Caribou Village Shopping Center, as many consider the destruction not just a triggering sight, but a health hazard. 

The beloved center that housed over 20 businesses burnt down on October 9, but despite both local authorities and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) having completed their on-site investigations, the wreckage still sits untouched, under the control of the owner, Tebo Properties. 

And while it was reported that the many different insurance companies involved with their separate investigations was what was causing the delay in the cleanup, that answer did not satisfy an enraged public who were demanding expedient action. 

By December 17 it was reported that the insurance investigations were complete, but there were still other issues that could delay any progress toward cleanup through the holiday season. 

“We would demo this site and get it cleaned up tomorrow if the State could get out of the way,” a representative from Tebo stated in correspondence with a Nederland resident. 

It was reported that, though the Town of Nederland was “not the hold up” and shared Tebo Properties’ urgency to get the site cleaned up, it was the State of Colorado that was causing issues—specifically, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).

“They need to sign off on our asbestos testing, and we are getting a complete bureaucratic redtape filled response,” Tebo Properties continued. “We even had a call with them with our asbestos testing company yesterday with them explaining that there was zero asbestos on the site. Our conversation fell on deaf ears with canned responses.”

Allegedly, the particular “hangup” is that CDPHE investigators were unable to access every portion of the destroyed building due to safety concerns, which resulted in CDPHE refusing to issue a permit as the “whole building” was not adequately tested for asbestos and other hazardous materials. 

“We can't test every portion of the building because it was a two-story building and there is rubble burying any access to the first floor. We even asked if we could have a tester on the site as we pulled off debris to test things on the fly and they said no. It's very frustrating.”

A day before the BCPH’s alert, the Town had officially released its Frequently Asked Questions document 2.0 on the status of the Lakeview Fire cleanup. 

The document, in addition to defining the roles and responsibilities of the different entities involved with this process, details the timing of a demolition and cleanup operation, stating first that there is no specific “inactivity” causing a delay in the process. 

According to the Town of Nederland, in order for demolition and debris removal to begin, the insurance investigations must be completed—which reportedly they are—and then approval must be issued by CDPHE, so that Town staff can issue the official demolition permit. 

Town Manager Jonathan Cain noted that he and Town staff had met with CDPHE immediately following the release of the FAQ, and that those meetings should hopefully produce “additional clarity on timing.”

Cain has yet to provide an update regarding these meetings. 

As for any air quality concerns, the Town reiterated the monitoring results from Boulder County, and also stated that any further testing as required due to the demolition process will be determined by CDPHE during the permitting process. 

Regarding water quality, the FAQ provides the following information: “[W]ater sampling was conducted upstream and downstream on the day of the fire. Results showed indicators consistent with a fire event, with no findings identified by CDPHE as a concern.

“The Town of Nederland continuously monitors its water system. To date, no water quality concerns related to the fire have been identified, and the Town has not been notified of concerns by the City of Boulder.”

The FAQ also addresses the Town’s “limitations” in providing accurate answers to the community’s health-related questions about the debris and ash from the site. They state that, as they are not a medical or public health authority, they will not attempt to “diagnose medical conditions, assess individual health risks, or determine whether specific symptoms are related to the Caribou Fire.”

Those residents experiencing health symptoms are urged to consult with their healthcare providers. 

As far as what authority the Town of Nederland has to force the timeline of the demolition and cleanup process on private property, the FAQ states that the Town does have “enforcement authority under its adopted building, property maintenance, and nuisance codes,” which can be enacted in the case of any risk to public health and safety. 

Though the Town has stated that “it does not intend to allow unsafe conditions to unreasonably persist” and that it can require “corrective action” when certain legal standards for enforcement are met—and states that it will do so—those actions are currently on hold in exchange for patience with the process and with CDPHE. 

The full FAQ can be viewed here: https://www.nederlandco.gov/home-page/page/caribou-village-fire-faq-20.