What Berthoud Fire Protection District does

Berthoud Fire Protection District (BFPD) is a Title 32 Special District and all-hazards emergency response agency headquartered at 248 Welch Avenue, Berthoud, Colorado, founded in 1888 as Berthoud Hose Company #1. The district provides fire suppression, emergency medical response, hazardous materials incident management, fire code enforcement, plan review, permitting, inspections, and life safety education across a 103-square-mile service area covering the Town of Berthoud and portions of unincorporated Boulder, Larimer, and Weld Counties. BFPD operates two 24/7 staffed fire stations on a 48/96 rotating shift schedule, holds an ISO Class 2 Public Protection Classification (top 3% nationally), responds to over 2,000 calls for service annually, and averages 350+ training hours per firefighter per year. A third station is in planning.

BFPD's technology stack centers on mission-critical safety infrastructure rather than software products. Core operational components include fire alarm and sprinkler systems, the Knox Box secure emergency access program (managed in partnership with Knox Company), and the county-wide NOCO Alerts emergency notification system operated by the Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority (LETA). Compliance and permitting are digitized through Brycer LLC's Compliance Engine for fire protection system inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) reporting, Colorado's Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA) for fee payments, and the district's Streamline-powered public website.

BFPD is funded through property taxes, a newly implemented district sales tax effective July 1, 2025, and impact fees on new construction (new schedule effective January 1, 2026), supplemented by a consolidated fee schedule for plan reviews, special event permits, mobile vendor/food truck permits, construction inspections, fire protection system permits, and fireworks/pyrotechnics permits. The district participates in a reciprocity program with 14 fire departments in Larimer and Weld Counties for mobile vendor inspections. Governance rests with a five-member Board of Directors (Dan Hershman, President; Mike Cook, Vice-President; Gary Maggi, Secretary/Treasurer; Eric Ryplewski and David Shipley, Directors) and a career Fire Chief, Stephen Charles, who has served since 1985.

Name

Berthoud Fire Protection District

Legal name

Berthoud Fire Protection District

Website

https://berthoudfire.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Berthoud Fire Protection District is a Colorado Title 32 Special District providing fire suppression, emergency response, fire code enforcement, permitting, and public education across 103 square miles from two 24/7 stations, serving Town of Berthoud and unincorporated Boulder, Larimer, and Weld County residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Fire Protection (922160)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire Sprinkler & Standpipe Systems (Design/Install/Service/Testing) (BPABAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Watch & Safety Patrol Services (BPAKAAAK), Fire Alarm Monitoring & Dispatch (BPAKAFAC)

Keywords

• Fire protection services
• Emergency response services
• Fire code enforcement
• Public fire education
• Emergency medical services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berthoud

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Property and Sales Tax Revenue: As a Title 32 Special District, BFPD is funded through property taxes and a newly implemented sales tax effective July 1, 2025. The district maintains fiscal health while sustaining ISO Public Protection Classification.
2. Permit and Fee Revenue: Revenue generated from various permits including tent permits, special event permits, plan review fees, construction inspections, fire protection system permits, mobile vendor/food truck permits, and fireworks/pyrotechnics permits. Fees are set in consolidated fee schedules.
3. Impact Fees: Impact fees on new construction and development adopted by board resolution. New impact fee schedule effective January 1, 2026, based on comprehensive growth analysis and necessary fire department resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Berthoud Fire Protection District is an all-hazards emergency response agency delivering fire suppression, emergency medical response, hazardous materials incident management, fire code enforcement, plan review, permitting, and construction inspections across 103 square miles via two 24/7 staffed stations. The district also offers community life-safety education, Knox Box secure access programs, special event permitting, fire protection system inspection/testing/maintenance (ITM), and emergency alerts via NOCO Alerts.

Product overview

Berthoud Fire Protection District is an all-hazards emergency response agency providing fire protection, emergency response, and community safety services across 103 square miles. The district operates two 24/7 staffed stations with an ISO Class 2 rating. Core services include emergency response, fire prevention education, and community outreach programs. Administrative services include plan review and permitting (Plan Review & Permitting, New Construction Inspections), fire protection system inspections (ITM Tracking via Brycer Compliance Engine), fire code enforcement (Adopted Fire Codes), and public records management. Community safety programs encompass car seat inspections, smoke/CO alarm assistance, bike helmet fitting, ride-alongs, and annual kids camps. The district provides emergency alerts through NOCO Alerts and secure building access via the Knox Box program. Online services include permit applications, records requests, and fee payments through AccessGov and SIPA platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Protection & Emergency Response Services All-hazards emergency response service delivered from two 24/7 staffed stations covering fire suppression, emergency medical response, hazardous materials incident management, and related emergency calls; holds an ISO Class 2 rating and responds to over 2,000 calls for service annually. Available to residents, businesses, and visitors within the 103-square-mile district.
• Plan Review & Permitting Fire code compliance review for commercial construction projects including fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, spray booth suppression, cooking extinguishing systems, and clean-agent suppression systems. Includes a 15 business day turnaround. Intended for developers, contractors, and business owners submitting construction projects within the district.
• New Construction Inspections Final construction inspections for general construction and fire-protection systems (sprinkler, alarm, commercial kitchen suppression, flammable finish operations) required before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. Targeted at general contractors, developers, and business owners completing new builds within the district.
• Fire Watch Services
• Fire Special Permits
• Knox Box Secure Access Program
• NOCO Emergency Alerts
• Public Records Request System
• Fire Protection System ITM Tracking Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) program for fire protection systems including sprinklers, alarms, pumps, and suppression systems, managed through Brycer LLC's Compliance Engine platform. Used by contractors and property owners with installed fire protection systems within the district.
• Car Seat Inspection Program
• Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm Assistance
• Bike Helmet Fitting Program
• Ride-Along Program
• Firefighter for a Day Kids Camp
• Community Outreach & Public Education
• Online Fee Payment Portal
• Adopted Fire Codes Enforcement Enforcement of the 2024 International Fire Code (Town of Berthoud, Boulder and Larimer Counties), 2021 IFC (Town of Berthoud), and 2018 IFC (Weld County) for all construction and occupancy matters within the district. Applies to property owners, contractors, and businesses within district boundaries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 calls for service annually from 2 stations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brycer LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationBFPD contracts with Brycer LLC to manage the fire protection systems' Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) program. Beginning January 15, 2025, all contractors performing ITM services are required to digitally submit compliant and non-compliant system reports to BFPD via the Brycer website (The Compliance Engine).
• NOCO Alerts (Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty-wide emergency alert system covering Larimer and Jackson counties, operated by LETA (Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority). Emergency alerts are utilized by all agencies within the county to disseminate vital life-saving information to the public quickly and efficiently. Fire Chief Charles serves as Chairman for the LETA Board.
• Knox CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationKnox Box system is a secure emergency access program. Knox Boxes must be ordered through the Knox Box website. The system allows firefighters immediate entry into buildings without forced entry during emergencies. BFPD participates in this industry-standard secure key box system.
• Larimer County and Weld County Fire Departments (Reciprocity Program)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBFPD participates in a reciprocity program with fourteen fire departments in Larimer County and Weld County for mobile vendor/food truck inspections. When a mobile vendor obtains a fire permit from one participating department, the permit is accepted at all participating fire departments through December 31 of that year. Vendor pays only one fee.
• BBC Research & ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConducted the 2025 Impact Fee Study for BFPD. The study was based on comprehensive analysis of projected growth within the service area and necessary fire department resources needed to serve that growth.
• Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIn 2023, BFPD contracted with ESCI to complete a new strategic plan. With input from command staff as well as entire membership, the updated strategic plan was finalized in July 2023.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mountain View Fire Rescue: Northern Colorado fire rescue agency with comparable emergency response, ITM tracking, and ISO-driven insurance premium impacts. Operates in a similar front-range environment with overlapping mutual aid territory.
• Longmont Fire Department: Municipal fire department in Boulder/Weld counties adjacent to BFPD with comparable plan review, permitting, and ISO-rated operations. Competes for the same regional talent pool.
• Windsor-Severance Fire Rescue: Adjacent Northern Colorado fire protection agency participating in the same mobile-vendor reciprocity program as BFPD. Similar district-based funding model, ISO rating focus, and Larimer/Weld County service footprint make it the most directly comparable peer.
• Estes Valley Fire Protection District: Larimer County fire district serving Estes Park with similar wildland-urban interface exposure and ISO rating-driven funding model. Comparable reliance on tourism-driven seasonal risk and impact fees.
• Loveland Fire Rescue Authority: Larimer County-based fire rescue authority operating adjacent to BFPD with similar all-hazards response, plan review/permitting, and ISO-driven operating model. Comparable scale and service mix make it a strong benchmark peer.
• Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District: Weld County fire protection district participating in the same mobile-vendor reciprocity program as BFPD. Similar Title 32-style district governance and rapid-growth service area dynamics.
• Poudre Fire Authority: Larimer County fire authority serving the Fort Collins area with overlapping mutual aid responsibilities. Similar combination of emergency response, fire code enforcement, and community risk-reduction programming.

Broad incumbents

• West Metro Fire Protection District: Larger Denver-metro fire protection district operating at materially greater scale. Serves as a broad-incumbent benchmark for plan review, permitting, and ISO Class 1/2 operating maturity.

Others

• Denver Fire Department: Large municipal fire department operating under a city government rather than a special district model. Useful reference for urban fire code enforcement, training, and operational scale even though governance structure differs from BFPD.
• Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control: State-level agency providing wildfire mitigation, code support, and training resources across Colorado. Sets the regulatory and grant-funding environment in which BFPD operates, particularly for wildfire preparedness.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berthoud-fire-protection-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Berthoud Fire Protection District