Posted on: May 17th, 2026

GHFPD Board Meeting Minutes, Monday, April 20, 2026

        

Next Meeting – Monday, May 18, 2026, 7:30 p.m. at the Firebarn and by Zoom

 

The meeting was called to order by President Kent Coghill.  Present were board members: Kent, Boyd Brown, Max Yeager, Chris Dirolf, Chief Rich Caudill, and Gretchen Diefenderfer.  Attending by Zoom were Leslie Finn, Caroline Ashley, and briefly Jessica Brookhart.

 Minutes – of the March 16^th meeting were corrected to read “Dave Sturtz, Chris Finn, (not Kris Gibson) and Val put in an enormous amount of work on the pagers”.   With that correction, Max moved the minutes be approved, Boyd seconded and they were approved.

FIRE CHIEF’S MINUTES

Operational Updates – The UTV is back with light bars rear window, and glass installed and Rich found an inexpensive siren on Amazon.  Dave will install the mirrors.  All better equipment for round the clock response.  We’ll see about the skid fitting – may have to drop into bed.  We now have rope rescue technical gear for uphill evacuation.

New Truck – Rich, Austin, and Max went out for the inspection – very good cordial visit – dug into the truck for hours and checked everything.  It’s very well constructed and they were impressed – compartments are fabulous – tons of storage.  It has single rear wheels (vs duals) – 20” wheels, which will lift 2” on suspension. (suspension is approx. like Baha trucks – very good). Their Dave is our go-to guy. The odometer and speedometer are off because of the larger tires (3380 R20)– will need to get calibrated.  Tank holds 330g of water and there is a remote panel to start the pump from inside.  The turret on the front adjusts from stream to fog, 30-120gpm – can spray for 10+ minutes.  It’s almost 27’ long with the turret and step at back – might have to add onto the front of the station.  Max suggested that we take 5402 to the Lefthand Glendale station so 5404, 5439, and 5431 (new truck) would stay here.  As far as delivery, it should leave this week.  It’ll stay for 1-2 days at Rich’s house and them come up here and we’ll start the title transfer, put water in it and drive it around!

Training – Thursday this week – if not truck, UTV.

Equipment Needs – Rich has sent email to Solvendahl regarding the Igel/colorimetric capnograph use and Epi.

INFRASTRUCTURE –

Garage Doors/Concrete Apron – Max is holding on the building permit until we know if we’ll need an extension.

Foam – will accept the 4 backpacks from Intelagard. Boyd will get ahold of them.

Fire Extinguishers – Needed maintenance – it had been several years, 2019 – sdo everything needed full recharge. They’re now all in full compliance – cost $1700.  Will need some Pressurized Water Extinguishers.

OPERATIONAL READINESS –

Strategic Planning – nothing new

Capital Replacement Plan – New Truck!

Budget – No budget impacts expected with new truck – more clarity next meeting with Jessica back. Rich has some $ built into the budget to cover some anticipated needs.

Inventory – Kent asked if there is a wish list for wildland tools?  Aliens, McClouds, scraping tools?  We do have lots of shovels – could weld some together

GENERAL

Parking – Kent reports that the minimum width for streets is 20’,  and if too narrow for fire trucks /emergency responders to navigate, the Fire Marshall can mandate “No Parking” on one or both sides of the street.   The Business Committee will send out a survey to get input from the town.  We can adopt a Fire Code for safety of the Community.

Firewise Community /Mitigation– Chris Dirolf thinks it’s up to the town to express our goals.  He adds that it’s tough as a specialist because he can tell 100 ways some are at high risk.  He suggests we ask the Fire Marshall from Nederland to come and meet with us.  That way we’d have a fair and independent assessment.

Grants – Boyd reports that he and Marcus applied for an IAFC grant through the Fire Department and were awarded $15,000.  Boyd will be the Administrator.  They have until August 1 to spend it.  He’s been talking to Maya and thought best to hire contractors and pay for some mitigation stuff: Teens, Inc., goats.  They want an introductory phone call – will ask questions and figure out what all they can do with the money.  We have a bunch of volunteers helping.  Jackie Barrie and Eric Kennedy came up and walked the town and have work planned for May and June.  They’ll finish up Hengemuhle’s, etc., and then do the town.  Eric has a big crew this year and can work 7 days a week.  Boyd took that info to the Town Meeting so everyone would know.  Most said asap and only one would go for Sunday’s off.

The big Forest Service grant is over in September, so we need to get as much done by then as possible. The volunteer crew has grown – 8 of us so far – have worked 2 hour sessions and gotten a lot of work done on the Lickskillet project.  Thinking about getting a portable sawmill to mill the Ashram lumber, etc.  They definitely want to reduce the wood out there.  Berkeley, the caretakes reports 100 trees blown down and that would fall within our fuels reduction and mitigation goals.  Max reports Prospector has 2 big beetle-ridden trees he wonders if should come down.  Chris Dirolf replied that he did a WFP assessment and sometimes big Ponderosa can survive beetle hits.  It’s a complex job – probably needs a professional.  Dustin Geesaman did Austin’s. 

CWPP – Chris D reports that they have money to help with non-combustible space/home hardening and are looking at how to distribute.  BWAC acquired a grant to pay for material.  Sunshine has declined so there’s more $ for other districts.  People interested have to sign up with WFP first for an assessment first.  They are compiling a complete list of all the projects and grants – Virginia Schultz is helping and Abby Silver.  They’re working on a list of contractors specific to fire mitigation.  1A and 1B funding may be able to be used as well.  Educations from the assessment is a big plus, too.  It can be a hard conversation about specific properties for the Firewise Community.  Boyd again added that we have a group of volunteers willing to do work for the community.

Lumen/CenturyLink – Rich reports at a meeting today that they said they replaced the batteries at the junction!  He didn’t get many details except that they will only supply 4-8 hours of power. It’s a small win, but significant.

Max made a motion to adjourn, Chris seconded.

Boyd reported on the bus restoration for the Museum.  It’s now ready to drive around and they’re excited.  Mark Frey has been doing a lot of the work.  One hurdle was the magneto kill switch was not working, but he figured it out

And the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary