Boulder County approves $2M in fire-protection grants

BOULDER COUNTY — The Boulder County Commissioners have approved more than $2 million in fire-protection grants, with funds generated by the Emergency Services Sales & Use Tax ballot measure approved by voters in 2022.

It’s the largest number of awards and largest dollar amount generated in the three years that the sales tax has been collected. Funds are used to provide medical and firefighting equipment, emergency vehicles, fire-station improvements, communications upgrades, personal protective equipment and other needs for first responders and community safety.

Boulder County has distributed more than $6 million in emergency services grants since the program began in 2023. Grants will be offered in the spring to search and rescue organizations.

“We are pleased to once again support the extensive volunteer and staff first responder teams that protect communities in times of emergency across Boulder County,” Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin said in a written statement. “Thanks to the Emergency Services Sales Tax approved by county voters, local fire districts can use this grant program to secure essential equipment and capital improvements that strengthen safety and preparedness countywide.”

Fall grant recipients included:

• Allenspark Fire Protection District — $54,620. Firefighter safety and operational equipment including PPE, a multi-gas detector, litter and wheel, intake valve, hose, and 14 Minitor7 pagers.
• Boulder County Firefighter’s Association — $147,125. Countywide emergency medical services training for all 17 BCFFA rural and mountain fire protection district agencies.
• Boulder County Sheriff’s Office – Fire Management — $65,780. Converts the ALERTWest wildfire-detection pilot program into a permanent 24/7 monitoring system.
• Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District — $220,612. NFPA-compliant PPE, radios, firefighting tools, medical gear, and training.
• Boulder Rural Fire Protection District — $47,910. Equipment to place a new Type 6 wildland engine into service, including tools, hose, fittings, MDT, and radios.
• City of Lafayette — $141,634. Upgrades to automatic voice alerting in the county dispatch system for improved efficiency and alert accuracy.
• Four Mile Fire Protection District — $186,423. Deferred replacements including a crew truck (50% share), ALS medical equipment, and other operational tools.
• Gold Hill Fire Protection District — $85,800. Concrete station apron, replacement SCBA bottles, UTV safety upgrades, a portable water pond, potable water system, and new PPE.
• Hygiene Fire Protection District — $195,380. Contribution toward construction of a new, modern fire station to replace the outdated 1963 facility.
• Indian Peaks Fire Protection District — $246,551. Replaces a failing 1992 brush truck and funds insulation and heating for the station bay.
• Lefthand Fire Protection District — $59,123. Replaces expired SCBA cylinders and adds a LUCAS CPR device to enhance safety and patient care.
• Louisville Fire Protection District — $81,857. Updated wildland PPE, radios, and specialized tools for technical rescue operations.
• Lyons Fire Protection District — $85,364. Four “No Smoke” diesel exhaust filters and 11 sets of structural turnout gear.
• Nederland Fire Protection District — $75,000. Purchases a LUCAS 3.1 CPR device and replaces an outdated LifePak monitor.
• Pinewood Springs Fire Protection District — $1,950. Tools for responding to EV and lithium-ion battery emergencies, such as those experienced by electric vehicles heading to or from Estes Park and Lyons on US 36
• Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District — $57,785. Purchases 14 BK KNG mobile radios to improve communication and safety.
• Sunshine Fire Protection District — $150,000. Replaces two aging RAM 5500 chassis for brush trucks and upgrades one with a new diesel pump and warning lights.
• Timberline Fire Protection District — $28,914. Five sets of custom-fit, NFPA-compliant structural PPE.
• Timberline Fire Protection District — $20,000. Supports ambulance coverage in Timberline’s Boulder County response area through Gilpin Ambulance Authority.
• Volunteer Fire Department of Big Elk — $63,015. All-terrain vehicle and skid rescue system for fire patrol and search and rescue across the 20-square-mile district and neighboring areas.

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