"We’re at the mercy of what AMR can do, or will do.””

NFPD Chief Charlie Schmidtmann

NEDERLAND - The Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) Board of Directors met on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, to discuss the City of Boulder losing American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance service, and the impact that will have on Nederland and Eldora.

But first, the Board reviewed the 37 calls of significance answered since mid-October.   

Since the Board’s last meeting on October 15, NFPD firefighters have responded to, and contained, a small wildland fire on Peewink Mountain, and also assisted Timberline Fire Protection District on containing a wildfire just outside of Rollinsville. 

Medical personnel responded to different cases of people experiencing difficulty breathing in Nederland,. They also responded to a child with a broken arm at Nederland Elementary School.

The snow on Saturday, November 8, caused a multiple-vehicle accident on Highway 119 near Rollinsville, with the icy conditions causing vehicles to slide off the road, including a NFPD vehicle that collided with a Boulder County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) vehicle. 

NFPD personnel also responded to a motor vehicle that had crashed into the wall of Boulder Canyon, with the driver being medically transported with minor injuries. A crash between a car and a motorcycle involved an investigation by BCSO, State Patrol, and Boulder Emergency Squad, as the motorcyclist unfortunately did not survive. 

Ambulance service

The City of Boulder, after requesting proposals, hosting an application process, and interviewing applicants over the summer, decided to end their 14-year relationship with AMR. The City instead will be contracting with Falck to provide ambulance services for the next three years.

AMR is expected to close their facility at 3800 Pearl Street in Boulder and to lay off up to 87 people by the end of the year. However, AMR is still expected to provide ambulance services to Boulder County, as well as to unincorporated areas, for two more years, until December 31, 2027.

Chief Charlie Schmidtmann explained to the Board that the City of Boulder switching providers every two contract cycles is a normal occurrence, and that the City’s ambulance services have traditionally served as a buffer for the County. 

Schmidtmann did note that, despite AMR still being responsible for covering Boulder County, the loss of the Boulder facility will cause AMR to have to respond from as far away as Arvada. This does give him reason to worry. 

“I am concerned that, especially on busy Eldora days, that we’re going to be in trouble,” Schmidtmann said. “It will be a challenge, and there’s a lot going on. We’re at the mercy of what AMR can do, or will do.”

Schmidtmann added that there are many factors to consider about Nederland’s future ambulance coverage, as there is the possibility of AMR pulling out of their remaining contract, as well as the potential of Hygiene and Lyons Fire organizations collaborating to provide ambulance services. 

Fire department operations

Schmidtmann detailed recent fire station operations. They include the October 26 Push-In Ceremony, where the firefighters, with help from the community, ceremoniously sprayed and wiped down the District’s newest fire engine before pushing it into the station’s bay. 

The newly re-formed Nederland Auxiliary sold merchandise and baked goods at the Push-In to raise up to $800 for the NFPD. 

Crew members also participated in the Nederland Elementary School’s Trunk or Treat event, driving up with several District vehicles to thrill the kids. They also directed trick-or-treat traffic at the crossing at West Boulder Street and Highway 119 on Halloween night.

Using an excavator, which the District was able to borrow at no cost, Schmidtmann himself dug a new line in order to move a propane tank at the NFPD’s secondary station. They also removed three tree stumps that were problematic for their snow plows.

Training

Included in Schmidtmann’s monthly report was a listing of the training that NFPD personnel have either attended or conducted, with the District having provided 372 hours of training in 2025 so far. 

Captain Glen Wheelock has been working on the new federal fire reporting system, the National Emergency Response Information System; creating a training schedule for the month of November and beyond. The District also secured testing of their hoses, trucks, and ladders by the company Waterway for 2026; taught a lesson on Command and Control; and provided training on vitals with two of the District’s probationary firefighters. 

Schmidtmann attended the Fire Leadership Challenge in Keystone and completed the Lead Program. Fire Marshal Andrew Joslin attended the International Association of Arson Investigators conference in Vail. He reported that he “learned a ton” about wildfire investigations, youth firesetting, coordinating large investigations and forensic anthropology.

New training location?

Schmidtmann and Captain Conor Moran also recently met with Nederland’s Town Manager Jonathan Cain to discuss expanding the NFPD’s ability to train on the Town Shop land on Ridge Road. 

The District currently does not have a location to train with their water spraying apparatuses. Previously, they were using the lot on 750 West 5th Street, now the construction site for the new New Explorers child care center. 

Schmidtmann has requested the use of space at the Town Shop to hold larger-scale training sessions, which would include the use of a “burn building” for active fire practice with hoses and ladders. The District would also install concrete and asphalt, so any runoff from live extrication training would not leach into the dirt. 

Cain has yet to provide the NFPD with an answer to their request, though Schmidtmann noted that the Town has been very supportive of their needs and efforts, and that he hopes the burn building project is not “too big of an ask.”

Eldora and NFPD

In relation to the Town of Nederland’s acquisition of Eldora Mountain Ski Resort, Schmidtmann and Wheelock attended the preseason emergency operations meeting at Eldora, and Joslin reported having worked with Eldora on facility inspections “to align with their rollout opening to the public for this season.”

Lakeview Fire fallout

In relation to the October 9 Lakeview Fire, Schmidtmann informed the Board that he had attended a briefing by nine insurance investigators working on the case, though there were no further updates for the public.

Joslin stated in his report that the NFPD has been actively involved with the Town of Nederland to help businesses displaced by the loss of the shopping center transition into new building spaces, “prioritizing fire inspections and documentation to ensure they can open safely.”

Schmidtmann added that they had just wrapped up an inspection of the several retail spaces and kitchen at The Vault, which is the new home for Brightwood Music and Very Nice Brewing Company, two of the 20 Nederland businesses lost to the fire. 

District Administrator Sherry Snyder also distributed 21 handwritten Thank You cards for the support the NFPD has seen from businesses and from the community in the wake of the Lakeview Fire. Schmidtmann extended thanks to those who brought food to firefighters at the station, and to all who have donated to the cause.

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 Wednesday, December 17 at 7 p.m. 

For more information, go to: nfpd.org.