What Timberline Fire Protection District does

Timberline Fire Protection District (TFPD) is a governmental special district organized under Colorado state law, formed on April 1, 2011 through the merger of Colorado Sierra Fire Protection District into High Country Fire Protection District. The district provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, backcountry rescues, motor vehicle collision response, and wildfire mitigation services to residents and businesses across portions of Gilpin and Boulder Counties in Colorado's Front Range, approximately 30 miles from the Denver/Boulder metro areas. TFPD operates 9 fire stations spanning from Nederland in Boulder County south to the gaming towns of Black Hawk and Central City in Gilpin County, employing a combination of career, part-time, and volunteer personnel (17 listed employees plus volunteer ranks).

The district's core technology is specialized fire apparatus optimized for mountainous terrain with limited water supply, including Compressed Air Foam (CAFS) fire engines (e.g., 2022 Freightliner Contender and 2013 Rosenbauer Timberwolf with 200 CFM Waterous CAFS systems) and water tenders (e.g., 2013 Rosenbauer Tenderwolf 6x6). In 2022, TFPD launched a Fire Mitigation and Defensible Space Division offering free home ignition zone assessments and discounted mitigation services. Additional digital services include emergency alert systems (Hyper-Reach for Gilpin County, Everbridge for Boulder County), an online payment portal for impact fees and cistern contributions, and a website powered by Streamline.

TFPD's revenue model is primarily tax-based as a governmental special district, funded through property taxes levied on residents and businesses in its coverage area. Secondary revenue streams include impact fees ($2,327 per residential construction, $2.82/sq ft commercial in Gilpin County) and Boulder County cistern contributions ($2,500), fire alarm review and inspection fees, mitigation services, and $20 reflective address sign sales channeled through the affiliated High Country Auxiliary non-profit. The district is supported by two 501(c)(3) organizations: the Timberline Volunteer Firefighter Foundation (EIN 85-4184683) and High Country Auxiliary, which provide supplemental funding, equipment, and firefighter welfare support outside the district's tax-funded budget. TFPD's ISO Public Protection Classification rating improved from 9 to 5 (effective November 1, 2018), lowering insurance premiums for properties within 5 road miles of most stations.

Name

Timberline Fire Protection District

Legal name

Timberline Fire Protection District

Website

https://timberlinefire.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Timberline Fire Protection District is a Colorado governmental special district providing fire suppression, EMS, wildfire mitigation, and emergency response services across 9 fire stations in Gilpin and Boulder Counties. The district is funded primarily through property taxes and serves residents and businesses in Colorado's Front Range mountains.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Response, Mutual Aid & Storm Logistics (EUADAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE), Wildfire Risk Assessment, Prevention & Suppression Services (IMAMAJAG), Emergency Storm Response & Restoration Clearing (EUADAOAH)

Keywords

• Fire protection services
• Emergency medical services
• Wildfire mitigation services
• Defensible space assessments
• Emergency response services

Headquarters

HQ city

Black Hawk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: As a special fire protection district in Colorado, TFPD is funded primarily through property taxes from residents and businesses in Gilpin and Boulder Counties.
2. Impact Fees and Cistern Contributions: Fees collected from new residential and commercial construction. Gilpin County charges $2327 for residential homes and $2.82/sq ft for commercial. Boulder County charges $2500 cistern contribution.
3. Fire Alarm Review and Inspection Fees: Fees for fire alarm system review and inspection services for new construction and existing buildings.
4. Mitigation Services: Discounted mitigation and defensible space services provided to homeowners after free property assessments.
5. Address Sign Sales: Reflective address signs sold through High Country Auxiliary for $20 each to help emergency responders locate properties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Timberline Fire Protection District (TFPD) is a governmental special district that provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, backcountry rescue, motor vehicle collision response, and wildfire mitigation across nine fire stations in Colorado's Front Range. Operating as a combination agency of career, part-time, and volunteer personnel, the district offers free property assessments, defensible space services, burn permit administration, emergency alert signups, and community education programs to residents and businesses in Gilpin and Boulder Counties.

Product overview

Timberline Fire Protection District is a combination fire protection agency serving Colorado's Front Range in Gilpin and Boulder Counties, approximately 30 miles from Denver/Boulder metro areas. The district spans from Nederland to Black Hawk and Central City, operating nine fire stations with specialized Type 1/3 Interface Fire Engines, Brush Trucks, and Engine-Tenders featuring CAFS (Compressed Air Foam) systems for mountainous terrain. Core services include fire suppression, emergency medical response, and all-hazards emergency services (structure/wildland fires, backcountry rescues, motor vehicle collisions). The district launched a dedicated Fire Mitigation and Defensible Space Division in 2022 offering free home ignition zone assessments, discounted mitigation work, and chipping events. Supporting services include Reverse 911 emergency alerts (via Hyper-Reach for Gilpin County and Everbridge for Boulder County), free smoke/CO detector distribution, reflective address signs, burn permits, and volunteer firefighter recruitment. The district is supported by two 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations: the Timberline Volunteer Firefighter Foundation and High Country Auxiliary. The website powered by Streamline serves as the primary digital portal for service access, payments, and community information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Timberline Volunteer Firefighter Foundation: A non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization with EIN 85-4184683 that supports and invests in Timberline firefighters and their families.
• High Country Auxiliary

Products and services

• Fire Mitigation and Defensible Space Program Wildfire risk reduction program offering free home ignition zone property assessments, defensible space work, and discounted mitigation services for district property owners, including egress work on highways and roads and chipping events for debris removal.
• Emergency Alert System (Reverse 911) Emergency notification service providing weather and community alerts via cell phone, email, landline, text messages, TTY/TDD, or fax. Gilpin County uses Hyper-Reach; Boulder County uses Everbridge platform.
• Fire Stations and Apparatus Network Nine strategically located fire stations operating Type 1/3 Interface Fire Engines, Brush Trucks, Engine-Tenders, and support vehicles equipped with CAFS (Compressed Air Foam) systems designed for mountainous terrain with limited water supply, providing 24/7 emergency response coverage.
• Free Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Program Free smoke and carbon monoxide detector distribution program for district residents. Limited availability of one to two detectors per address.
• Reflective Address Signs Reflective green address signs sold for $20 each (including mounting brackets) to help emergency responders locate residences. Made on-site at events or ordered through High Country Auxiliary.
• Burn Permits Slash pile burning permits for Gilpin and Boulder Counties. Requires both state and county permits; Timberline officers visit sites to review burn piles before approval.
• ISO Rating and Insurance Support Property Protection Classification Rating service. Current PPC Rating of 5 for properties within five road miles of TFPD stations; PPC Rating of 10 for others. Includes guidance on validating coverage through county assessor records.
• Impact Fee and Cistern Contribution Payment Portal Online payment portal for Gilpin County Impact Fees ($2,327 for residential new construction, $2.82/sq ft commercial) and Boulder County Cistern Contribution ($2,500). Includes fire alarm review and inspection fee payments.
• Volunteer Firefighter Program Combination agency volunteer program accepting applications for career, part-time, and volunteer personnel. All-hazards response including structure/wildland fires, EMS, backcountry rescues, and motor vehicle collisions. Training provided for Firefighter/EMT certification in Colorado.

Quantifiable outcome

• ISO PPC Rating improved from 9 to 5
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• High Country AuxiliarycoreOthersHigh Country Auxiliary, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization. Their mission is to aid and support Timberline Fire Protection District, Gilpin County Animal Response Team (G.C.A.R.T.) and other emergency service organizations. Services include providing water and food at scene responses or training sessions, purchasing supplies for firefighters, purchasing equipment outside of budgets, and providing scholarships for firefighter training. They also sell reflective address signs for $20 each.
• Timberline Volunteer Firefighter FoundationcoreOthersNon-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization (EIN 85-4184683) with mission to support and invest in the Timberline Firefighter Family, enhance their well-being, and honor their service to the community. Supports firefighters through donations and community fundraising events including See's Candy Valentine's Day Fundraiser and King Soopers Community Rewards program.
• Axe & SnaxminorOthersAxe & Snax is a non-profit volunteer fire mitigation and firewood supply organization assisting physically and financially challenged residents of Gilpin County. Works in conjunction with TFPD's mitigation efforts.
• Ember AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with TFPD to host Pile Build Workshop events to educate community members on wildfire risk mitigation through building and burning slash piles.
• Clear Creek WatershedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with TFPD on the Pile Build Workshop to provide community education on wildfire mitigation techniques.
• Wildfire PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoulder County-based organization providing educational videos and resources for wildfire preparedness. Recommended for Boulder County portion of TFPD district for free assessments.
• Gilpin CountycoreOthersGilpin County provides funding for egress work and mitigation projects in high-risk areas. County chose and funded projects including Missouri Lakes, Corona Heights, and Dory Hill. County assessors website used for property records and tax area verification.
• Boulder CountycoreOthersBoulder County partners with TFPD for fire protection services in the southern portion of the county. County treasurer website used for property records and mill levy information. County issues burn permits for unincorporated areas.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Evergreen Fire Protection District: Larger Colorado mountain-area fire protection district serving Evergreen and surrounding foothills. Combination career/volunteer model with extensive WUI mitigation programming and ISO rating management, providing a scaled-up analog to TFPD.
• Coal Creek Canyon Fire Protection District: Colorado mountain-area fire protection district covering Coal Creek Canyon between Boulder and Golden. Neighboring TFPD's service area, with similar terrain, WUI exposure, and small-district combination agency structure.
• North Fork Fire Protection District: Colorado special fire protection district serving the North Fork of the Gunnison River area. Combination volunteer/career agency with mountain and wildland-urban interface responsibilities closely comparable to TFPD's service profile.
• Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District: Colorado special fire protection district serving the mountain communities of Deer Creek, Aspen Park, and Conifer along the Front Range. Operates a similar combination career/volunteer model with wildfire mitigation focus, making it the closest structural and geographic analog to TFPD.
• Genesee Fire Protection District: Colorado special district providing fire and emergency services to a mountain community near Golden. Comparable statutory structure, volunteer-augmented staffing, and WUI exposure profile.

Emerging players

• Wildfire Partners: Boulder County-based nonprofit providing free wildfire preparedness assessments, videos, and resources for mountain residents. Active TFPD partner and partial functional substitute/extension of TFPD's own assessment program.
• Ember Alliance: Colorado-based nonprofit focused on home ignition zone education and community wildfire resilience. Co-hosts pile build workshops with TFPD and overlaps directly with the district's mitigation programming.

Others

• Boulder County Sheriff's Office Fire Management Program: County-level fire management and emergency coordination program operating alongside TFPD in Boulder County. Provides overlapping all-hazards response capability and burn-permit oversight in TFPD's service footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control: State-level fire agency with statutory responsibility for wildfire mitigation, training, and incident response across Colorado. Co-staffs Station 4 with TFPD and sets the regulatory framework within which TFPD operates.

Regional players

• Nederland Fire Protection District: Neighboring Colorado mountain fire district covering Nederland and surrounding unincorporated Boulder County areas. Shares a service-area border with TFPD and historically shares volunteer personnel (Garth Wagner started as a Nederland volunteer).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/887110818575971
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/timberline-fire-protection-district

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Timberline Fire Protection District