Accreditation is a comprehensive self-assessment and evaluation model that enables organizations to examine past, current, and future service levels and internal performance and compare them to industry best practices. This process leads to improved service delivery.

CPSE's Accreditation Program, administered by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) allows fire and emergency service agencies to compare their performance to industry best practices.

The Poudre Fire Authority was granted accredited status on August 27, 2015 and uses the documents required for application on an on-going basis to help manage internal operations. This includes annual compliance reporting to CFAI.

The accreditation model provides Poudre Fire Authority a well-defined, industry recognized benchmarking system to ensure that PFA delivers high-quality fire and emergency services.

• Determine community risk and safety needs and develop community-specific Standards of Cover.
• Evaluate the performance of the department.
• Establish a method for achieving continuous organizational improvement.

PFA RA/SOC Link

PFA Accreditation Report

What need I need to know about purchasing AED's?

Do your homework first.  The initial cost is one thing.  Other issues to consider:

• Do you need it mobile or is it going to be mounted somewhere?
• If you are a business, is it available to anyone or just for the company…where is your liability?  Do you need a Medical Director to review calls?
• Who is going to be responsible for checking the AED and downloading any information (there are computer programs that are interface but they cost money).
• There are some companies that offer a subscription service – is it worth it?
• What are the costs of the batteries (how long do they last?)
• What are the costs of the pads?
• The basic units are usually just fine for non-EMS response use - don’t get tempted by the bells and whistles unless you want/need them.

 Here are some links to help you do explore AED Information that is available.

 https://www.aedbrands.com/comp-chart/

 http://www.compareaed.eu/

 http://www.cpr-savers.com/AED-Comparison-Page_ep_44-1.html

GRANT INFO

http://www.aedgrant.com/

http://www.cpr-savers.com/AED-Grant-Programs_ep_51-1.html?gclid=CL6g54PF3MsCFRCRaQod6XUK7Q

https://www.hopeysheart.org/aed-grant-program/

Please do not call 9-1-1  The fire department does not have the tools or resources to rescue wildlife.

• If you reside in Larimer County and have concerns regarding a SICK, INJURED OR AGGRESSIVE skunk, raccoon, bat, fox or coyote, please contact Animal Protection and Control at (970) 226-3647 ext. 7.  DO NOT TOUCH or ATTEMPT TO INTERVENE with the animal.  
• Northern Colorado is home to an abundant wildlife population.  Although these animals are wonderful to observe, they can also pose a conflict with humans. Prevention is key!  View common issues and solutions to prevent conflicts with wild animals.
• For other wildlife issues including nuisance, all other injured wildlife species or orphaned wildlife,  contact: 

• Colorado Parks and Wildlife
  (970) 472-4300
  Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  For help after hours, contact:
  Colorado State Patrol
  (303) 239-4501

No, PFA does not rescue animals stuck in chimneys.  Contact Animal Protection and control 970-226-3647 ext 500

This site has guidelines for removing animals in chimney

http://www.urbanwildliferescue.org/humane/squirrels.htm#chim

No, PFA does not have the expertise or the equipment. You can contact Northern Colorado Beekeepers Association Swarm and Structural Removal Hotline at 1.844.SPY.BEES (1-844.779-2337). 

Call 970-658-4949 for Northern Colorado Front Range Swarms.

For more information about swarms, go to their website  Swarm Hotline

Through Safe Kids Larimer County, Kids Bicycle Helmet coupons are available for a $10 donation (requested but not required). To redeem, call any location listed on the back of your coupon and set up an appointment.  Call the Safe Kids office at 970-495-7502 for more information.

Helmets are available at these locations, please call for an appointment:

Fort Collins Bike Co-op

1501 N. College Ave., Fort Collins

970-484-3804

Poudre Fire Authority

970-221-6574

Berthoud Fire Protection

275 Mountain Ave., Berthoud

970-532-2264

Wellington Fire Protection

8130 3rd St., Wellington

970-568-3232

Windsor-Severance Fire Rescue

100 7th St., Windsor

970-686-2626

Thompson School District Administration

800 S. Taft Ave., Loveland

970-613-5768

No. We do not have the storage space available at our fire stations.

To dispose of a used or expired car seat you may do one of the following:

Curbside Trash - You can dispose of car seats in your regular curbside trash. To ensure safety, make sure the seat cannot be reused by cutting the straps and removing the fabric. 

Larimer County Landfill - You can take your car seat directly to the Larimer County Landfill located at 5887 S Taft Hill Rd. The landfill is open Monday-Saturday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. 

Recycling Centers - You can drop off car seats at various recycling centers in the area, such as the Timberline Recycling Center or the RMB Recycling Center.  

PFA does not have car seats to distribute.  For information on a low-cost car seat, Click Here - Car Seat Resources – Safe Kids Northern Colorado

• The vehicle could be driven away from the crash
•  The vehicle door closest to the car safety seat was not damaged
•  No one in the vehicle was injured. The air bags did not go off.
•  You can’t see any damage to the car safety seat.

PFA does not recommend one brand over another. The right car seat or booster fits your child and your vehicle and is one you will use correctly every time you travel. Consumer Reports offers a purchasing guide http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/car-seats.htm.  Another resource is On The Go - HealthyChildren.org

Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) has certified car seat technicians that can help teach you how to install car seats for kids of all ages. The technicians can also review car seats that are already installed to ensure everything is correct and talk to you about the right car seat for your child or children based on age and weight.

You can make an appointment by calling 970-416-2891 or by emailing education@poudre-fire.org Monday through Thursday 8-5 and Friday 8 - 12:30. Please provide a description of the type of car seat (infant/convertible).

Please be sure to bring the car seat, car seat manual (if you have one), and your vehicle owner’s manual. Not all fire stations have certified technicians available, so appointments are done mostly at PFA Headquarters at 102 Remington St.

1. Check the pressure gauge on the fire extinguisher. The arrow should be in the green area straight up on the gauge. If it is not, the extinguisher should be serviced.
2. The handle-locking device should be in place. If it has been broken, your extinguisher may need to be serviced.
3. You cannot use fire extinguishers more than once without having them serviced. If yours has been partially used, it needs to be serviced.
4. If any part of the extinguisher is cracked or broken, it should be checked and serviced.

We do not recharge fire extinguishers; however, there are several companies in the area who do.  You may google "Recharging Fire Extinguishers Near Me" to find companies in the Fort Collins area.  

When landscaping around fire hydrants please use the following guidelines:

• 3 feet of clearance around hydrants so fire crews can locate hydrants quickly and connect fire hoses
• 15 feet of clearance above hydrants for maintenance
• 18 inches of vertical clearance from the hydrant's base to the center of the large cap so crews can connect fire hoses quickly and/or conduct maintenance

 Additional Guidelines

• Never paint a fire hydrant
• Keep plants and landscaping to a minimum near hydrants

The City of Fort Collins Utilities owns and manages the fire hydrants in city limits.  Contact them at 970-221-6700 (24/7).

Areas outside city limits, refer to your water bill.  Map with water districts click here

All fire hydrants in city limits are maintained by the City of Fort Collins Utilities Department.  Contact them at 970-221-6700.

Areas outside of city limits are serviced by different water utilities. Please refer to your water bill to see who services your hydrants.

All Outdoor Fire Pits and Fireplaces Must:

• Have solid, above grade containment around the entire perimeter.
• Be constantly attended by a competent and non-impaired person.
• Have extinguishing equipment available.
• Use only clean dry wood – no house or yard waste.
• Be located a minimum of 15 ft. from structures or combustibles.
• Use a wood pile that is less than 3 ft. wide by 2 ft. high.

NOTE: City codes may address additional aspects of outdoor fire pits such as hours and the impacts of nuisance smoke. Poudre Fire Authority follows the International Fire Code with the mission of protecting life and property. If you have questions regarding when outdoor fire pits can burn in your neighborhood or smoke concerns, please reach out to your local municipality. 

Recreational, religious, ceremonial and cooking fires are allowed in PFA’s jurisdiction without a burn permit as long as they follow the International Fire Code.

We offer certification courses in-house to PFA employees which is why we are listed as a provider by the American Heart Association. 

Local First Aid, CPR and AED Training Resources

American Red Cross - Training in Colorado

Banner Health Northern Colorado - Classes, Support Groups and Events

CPR Choice - Colorado

Educational Resources

Heart CPR

The City of Fort Collins Recreator

UCHealth Training Center (formally Poudre Valley Hospital)

The fire department does not come out and fix flagpoles or attach flags to flagpoles.

You can contact a private flag pole repair company or rent an aerial lift from a rental company, check your local Yellow Book pages or perform an internet search.

Lanterns are not allowed within PFA’s district, including Fort Collins,  Timnath and Laporte.

The NFPA 1: Fire Code, 2015 Edition states the following: The use of unmanned, free-floating sky lanterns and similar devices utilizing an open flame shall be prohibited. 

 Link to NFPA's Lantern Fire Safety 

Poudre Fire Authority has long been the recipient of community generosity. From donations to support our education and outreach programs to the philanthropic support of the 9/11 Memorial at Spring Park, charitable giving allows us to expand and deepen our impact. Gifts to Poudre Fire Authority are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Click Here to Make a Gift - City Give Page and select “PFA Community Fund” in the drop-down menu.

We do not give out the station phone numbers.  In case of an emergency, you need to call 9-1-1.

If you are trying to schedule a meeting at one of the stations, please call 970.416.2892 M-TH 8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.  or Fridays 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. or for more information click here.

If you are trying to schedule a station tour, click here.

No. We have and will continue to accept business structures that are about to be demolished for training purposes (interior and exterior), but never with the intent to burn or demolish the building.

Community Rooms are available for use by non-profit groups (501c3), Community Groups (HOA, Boy & Girl Scouts etc.). Click Here for more information: https://www.poudre-fire.org/online-services/reserve-a-community-room

NOTE: We do not 'rent' our community rooms for birthday parties.  FOOD is not allowed in any of our community rooms.

Station 4 (Drake & Taft)

Station 7 (Town of LaPorte)

Station 8 (Town of Timnath)

Station 10 (Horsetooth/Timberline) - Not ADA compliant.

Station 12 (Country Club/Terry Lake)

Station 14 (Timberline/Trilby)

Administration Boardroom (Remington/Mountain) not available during business hours

Our Fire Stations are open 24/7, however general visiting hours are usually 8:00am to 9:00pm.  Our Administrative Offices are open Monday through Thursday. 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Fridays 8:00 am to 12:45 pm.

Administrative Offices will be closed for the following Holidays:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Presidents Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans’ Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day After Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day

The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (CAFR Program) in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal.

The goal of the program is not to assess the financial health of participating governments, but rather to ensure that users of their financial statements have the information they need to do so themselves.

PFA submits its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) to GFOA.

The CAFR is then reviewed by selected members of the GFOA professional staff and the GFOA Special Review Committee (SRC), which comprises individuals with expertise in public sector financial reporting and includes financial statement preparers, independent auditors, academics, and other finance professionals.

PFA's CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive 'spirit of full disclosure' to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

Participating in the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program demonstrates PFA's commitment to, 'maintain community trust by being effective and accountable stewards of the community and PFA's resources.'

PFA CAFR Report

GFOA COA

PFA submits its Annual Budget document to the Budget Awards Program.

The Annual Budget is reviewed by selected members of the GFOA professional staff and by outside reviewers with experience in public-sector budgeting. PFA's published Annual Budget meets or exceeds GFOA program criteria as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a communications device.

PFA's Annual Budget reflects the commitment of the PFA governing body and staff to meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting, assuring clarity and transparency in financial matters.

In addition, the award reflects that PFA is an effective and accountable steward of the community and PFA's resources.

PFA 2015 Budget

GFOA Budget Award

The International City and County Manager's Association (ICMA) through its Center for Performance Analytics encourages local governments to use this model to encourage comparative analysis and performance measurement transparency.

As part of this effort, the ICMA awards certificates each year to recognize local government performance management programs. .

Poudre Fire Authority strives to seek objective and independent evaluation of its continuous performance improvement efforts. And it is also important to seek multiple avenues of evaluation to ensure that the citizen can be assured that the results of these evaluations are validated from various agencies and vantage points.

The ICMA Certificate in Performance Management ensures the citizen that the PFA measures and reports its performance to the PFA board, the PVFPD board, the City Council and various other external partners.

In addition, participation in this process also ensures that the PFA is encouraged to continuously evaluate and seek out best practices in performance measurement.

ICMA Insights

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) provides information to insurance companies which are used in determining insurance premium rates for commercial and residential properties.

How actual premium rates are determined are proprietary; however firefighting capabilities, fire loss experience, marketing strategies and underwriting guidelines are all considered. The Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) used by ISO, evaluates four categories related to fire suppression. These are:

• The fire department serving the community.
• The emergency communications center that dispatches the fire department.
• The water supply used by the fire department.

Poudre Fire Authority participates with ISO because this model provides an objective inventory of fire suppression capability and facilitates citizens' ability to obtain optimal insurance coverage.

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) provides information to insurance companies which is used in determining premium rates for commercial and residential properties. Poudre Fire Authority participates with ISO on a regular basis, most recently in 2009 and 2014.

The ISO rating can have a direct impact on the premiums that home and business owners pay for property insurance. Therefore, Poudre Fire Authority strives to maintain a low (better) ISO rating.

While the specific economic impact is difficult to assess due to the proprietary nature of the ratings and variability between insurance companies, lower ISO ratings generally equate to lower insurance premiums.

ISO Fire Suppression Rating Schedule Overview

PFA does not accept used motor oil or gasoline.  Larimer County Houshold Hazardous Waste will accept these items and the recyling center on Timberline will also accept motor oil.

https://www.fcgov.com/recycling/

Almost 74% of PFA's calls for assistance are medical in nature. Because our Firefighters are also Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's) PFA made the strategic decision to equip our first responders with the resources they needed to deliver a higher level of medical care as a part of their first response to an incident. This is why we frequently hear, “I called for an ambulance, but a fire truck showed up.” In many cases, the fire EMTs are able to address the situation so that an ambulance is not needed. This helps to “free up” the ambulances so that they are available for the more serious incidents. This helps to reduce EMS response times, while enhancing the overall level of medical service to the community.

PFA will respond to a true emergency situation, such as an infant or pet locked in a vehicle, and will use a punch tool to remove one of the windows. However, if there is no emergency involved, our department must regretfully refer you to a locksmith.  The inner workings of the door mechanism in modern vehicles are best left to the experience of locksmiths.

PFA provides fire, EMS and rescue services to the City of Fort Collins, Town of Timnath, Bellvue and LaPorte.  Our service area is 235 square miles with an estimated population of 189,000 people.  Our district is bounded on the west by a line equal to Redstone Canyon, on the east by a line approximately 4 miles into Weld County, on the north by approximately Larimer County Rd. 60E, and on the south by Larimer County Rd. 30. PFA responds approximately 4.5 miles into the Poudre Canyon (from Ted's Place) up to and including Gateway Park.

Other neighboring areas

The Poudre Canyon Volunteer Fire/EMS Department serves the residents and visitors of the Poudre Canyon in Bellvue, Colorado. https://www.poudrecanyonfiredistrict.org/

Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department is an all-volunteer, Fire Department that provides fire and EMS services in a 110 sq mile area west of Fort Collins, CO. http://www.rcvfd.org/. Areas include Whale Rock and Stove Prairie.

Glacier View Fire Department is a volunteer department responding to emergencies in the fire district of Livermore, Colorado (northwest of Fort Collins). https://www.glacierviewfire.gov/

Red Feather Lake Volunteer Fire Department provides emergency services to residents and visitors of Red Feather Lakes. https://www.rflvfd.org/

The Crystal Lakes Fire Protection District is a volunteer department that covers an area approximately 4,800 acres. Located in the Roosevelt National Forest fifty miles northwest of Fort Collins.  http://clvfd.org/ 

Ault-Pierce Fire Department is an all-volunteer department serving northern Weld County.  https://aultpiercefire.org/.

Wellington Fire Protection District is a volunteer department serving Wellington and Waverly communities. http://www.wfpd.org/

The Loveland Fire Rescue Authority provides fire and rescue services to the City of Loveland, and residents living within the Loveland Rural Fire Protection District. https://lfra.org/

Windsor/Severance Fire Rescue provides fire and rescue services to the Towns of Windsor and Severance https://www.wsfr.us/

Estes Valley Fire Protection District provides fire and rescue services to the Town of Estes Park  http://www.estesvalleyfire.org/.

PFA firefighters work 24 hour shifts.  During their shift, they cannot go home or to a restaurant to have a meal, except under unusual circumstances. Occasionally, firefighters will use a restaurant for a meal if they have not had time to shop for their meals at the grocery store. Each day, the firefighters pool their own money to buy groceries for their duty shift and one or more of the firefighters fix meals for the rest while they are at the fire station. The firefighters take the fire engine with them to the store so they can respond, as a team, quickly from the store if they are called for an emergency response. The firefighters go everywhere together as a team when they are on duty, whether they are in the station or out, because this is how they are training to manage emergencies.

Requests for patches will only be fulfilled through the Patch Order Form.  Please complete the information in the form.  Cost for a patch is $5.00 (US currency only).

 PATCH REQUEST

Application for Open Burn Permits are managed and issued through Larimer County Environmental Health.  Their address is: 1525 Blue Spruce Drive, Fort Collins, CO  80524.  Phone 970-498-6775 http://www.larimer.org/burnpermit/

Information for burn permits and burning requirements: https://www.larimer.gov/sites/default/files/burnbrochure.pdf

Information for burn permits for Weld County properties in Poudre Authority's district can be found by clicking here.

No.  PFA fire stations do not have a collection program.

The Larimer County Hazardous Waste Facility accepts used hypodermic needles from county residents who self-medicate. Sharps must be brought in FDA-approved sharps containers, which can be purchased from most local drug stores.  Needles brought in any other containers or loose needles will not be accepted.

See Larimer County website for information:  Click here.

No, PFA does not offer a drug take-back program.

Residents may now safely dispose of unused, unneeded and expired over-the-counter and prescriptions medications any day of the week to Fort Collins Police Services, 2221 S. Timberline Road, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. This service is free & anonymous.  Items not accepted include: intravenous solutions, injectables, syringes, mercury (thermometers), oxygen containers, chemotherapy/radioactive substances, pressurized canisters and illicit drugs. 

 You may also click here to find another location nearest to you.  

Smoke alarms are available for citizens that cannot afford to purchase them.  If you are in need of a smoke alarm call 970-416-2891.

For more information about smoke alarms click here.

Several types of CO alarms are on the market. One type is plugged into a wall socket and has a life of about 7 years. The other type of alarm uses a chemical sensor and battery. The sensor/battery unit has a two year limited warranty and does indicate a low battery by beeping once a minute. To keep this alarm operating properly, the sensor/battery must be replaced when the battery is low. CO alarms can be purchased at many local hardware and small appliance stores at a cost of $35 to $50. Make sure the alarm that you purchase has an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) label.

New State law was signed and went into effect July 1, 2009. This law applies to dwelling units, including rentals that have a fuel fired heater or appliances, a fireplace or an attached garage. Units must have an operational carbon monoxide alarm installed within 15 feet of the entrance to each room lawfully used for sleeping purposes or in a location specified by applicable building code.

Regardless of the alarm you choose, there are some things you need to know. Carbon monoxide alarms should be located on every floor and mounted according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If the alarm goes off, everyone should get out of the house at once and call the fire department by dialing 911 from a neighbor's house. Do not ventilate your house by opening doors and windows. When the fire department personnel arrive they will obtain CO readings in different areas of your home to determine the source of the CO.

Another very important point to remember is that you still need a working smoke alarm on every level of your home. The CO alarm does not sense smoke or fire. Smoke alarms are needed to give your family early warning if there is a fire in your home.

If you are concerned about whether your furnace and/or appliances are working properly, contact your contractor to have an inspection. If you have questions about your gas furnace or appliances, contact your gas company. If your CO alarm gives a warning signal, get out of the house and call 911 from a neighbor's house.

Most smoke detectors (ionization) cannot be recycled due to the tiny amount of radioactive elements inside them (Americium 241). 

The best option for disposal is to return the smoke detector back to the manufacturer.  The address of the manufacturer can be found in the owner's manual, the back of the smoke detector or on the company's website.  Contact the manufacturer for shipping instructions.

If the manufacturer is no longer in business or isn't willing to accept the used detectors, wrap the smoke detector in several layers of newspaper to prevent breakage and place in your trash.

The City of Fort Collins has investigated the use of Emergency Alert Sirens several times however have determined that other forms of emergency notification are more effective for the following reasons.  Due to our geographic location Fort Collins is not as prone to certain weather events as some of our neighbors.  Emergency sirens must be targeted for a specific use, are costly to install, annual maintenance costs are high, and studies have shown that over time people become inattentive to sirens when they are regularly tested. 

The City of Fort Collins has chosen newer forms of emergency notification as they can effectively target specific locations within a community, provide audible or text information informing citizens as to the type of emergency, provide instructions on what to do, and in addition are very cost effective.  Currently Ft. Collins uses a reverse 911 system (Everbridge), Cable TV notification, NOAA Weather Radio Alert System, and the radio Emergency Alert System.   

It is the goal of the Office of Emergency Management to provide the highest level of safety to the citizens of Fort Collins. Utilizing the methods of emergency notification described above we quickly provide continual, updated information to those in potential danger from natural and man-made disasters.