Grand Lake Fire Protection District

What Grand Lake Fire Protection District does

Grand Lake Fire Protection District (GLFPD) is a publicly governed Colorado special district established in 1952 that delivers all-hazards emergency response across approximately 105 square miles of northern Grand County, including the Town of Grand Lake, portions of Rock Mountain National Park, and surrounding recreational areas. The agency operates a combination career-and-volunteer model with 13 full-time staff (nine shift personnel plus the Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, Executive Assistant, and Wildland Coordinator), supplemented by resident volunteers and seasonal wildland personnel; staffing runs on a 48/96 shift schedule out of a single Station 1 at 201 W Portal Rd, Grand Lake, Colorado, providing 24/7 coverage. GLFPD responds to roughly 300-400 calls per year, of which approximately 60% are medical and the balance comprises structure and wildland fire, motor vehicle accidents, hazmat, rope/ice/water rescue, and search and rescue incidents.

The district's product surface spans five service lines: (1) fire suppression and rescue, (2) emergency medical services, (3) wildland fire mitigation and prescribed burns delivered through the Joint Wildland Division co-operated with Grand Fire Protection District, (4) annual short-term rental fire and life safety inspections (a regulatory service required for STR licensing with published tiered fees of $150-$350 per unit), and (5) free monthly public education classes under the "Empowering Everyday Heroes" program. Technology consists of conventional structural and wildland fire apparatus (including a Pierce Aerial and Pierce Engine), EMS supplies, technical rescue gear, and unmanned aerial systems supporting wildland operations; integrated dispatch through 911 and county mutual-aid networks is the operational backbone.

GLFPD is funded almost entirely through voter-approved property tax mill levies, with the 2025 ballot question passing by 864 votes in favor and authorizing up to 13 mills (operationally constrained to approximately 5.13 mills plus an $875,000 fixed component due to prior ballot language limits). Annual revenue is approximately $1.81 million in 2023 and projected at $2.32 million in 2025, with statutory revenue growth capped at 5.25% per year. Supplemental revenue is generated from STR inspection fees, donations, and federal reimbursement for national wildland fire deployments. Governance is by a five-person publicly elected board with statutory term limits; the Fire Chief is appointed by the board, and the district has no parent company or private equity involvement.

Name

Grand Lake Fire Protection District

Legal name

Grand Lake Fire Protection District

Website

https://grandlakefire.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Grand Lake Fire Protection District is a publicly governed Colorado special district providing fire suppression, EMS, technical rescue, wildland mitigation, and short-term rental inspections across 105 square miles of northern Grand County to residents, visitors, and partner agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection and Emergency Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Fire Protection (922160)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE), Forest Fire Management & Fuels Reduction Services (IMAMAAAH), Wildfire Fuel Reduction & Prescribed Burning (AFAMAAAF)

Keywords

• Fire suppression services
• Emergency medical response
• Wildland fire mitigation
• Technical rescue services
• Public safety education

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue (Primary): As a special district, GLFPD is funded nearly exclusively through property taxes. The mill levy was approved at up to 11.63 mills in 2019, with a proposed increase to 13 mills in 2025. Due to ballot language limitations, actual collection functioned as 5.13 mills plus $875,000 rather than full 11.63 mills. Revenue growth is capped at 5.25% annually by state statute.
2. Short-Term Rental Fire and Life Safety Inspections: Annual inspection fees for short-term rentals within the district. Studio/1-bedroom: $150, 2-3 bedroom: $250, 4+ bedroom: $350. Revenue supports fire marshal inspection program.
3. Wildland Deployment Income: Joint Wildland Division personnel support national wildland fire and all-hazard deployments, generating supplemental income through federal reimbursement for deployed resources.
4. Service Fees and Donations: Revenue from service fees, donations, and community support programs including scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Grand Lake Fire Protection District is a combination fire and rescue agency providing structural and wildland fire suppression, emergency medical services (approximately 60% of call volume), technical rescue (rope, ice, water), hazmat response, motor vehicle accident response, and search and rescue across 105 square miles in northern Grand County, Colorado. The district also delivers short-term rental fire and life safety inspections, free public safety education programs, and operates the Joint Wildland Division with Grand Fire Protection District for wildfire mitigation and national deployments.

Product overview

Grand Lake Fire Protection District is a combination fire and rescue agency offering emergency response services across 105 square miles in northern Grand County, Colorado. The district operates as a unified emergency services provider with five core service areas: fire suppression and rescue, emergency medical services (representing ~60% of call volume), wildland fire mitigation through the Joint Wildland Division, short-term rental fire and life safety inspections, and free public education programs. The district serves areas from County Road 4 North to Rocky Mountain National Park, responding to approximately 400 calls annually with 13 full-time staff, seasonal personnel, resident volunteers, and community volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Suppression and Rescue Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 calls per year with medical incidents comprising approximately 60% of call volume
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Grand Fire Protection DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Joint Wildland Division partnership dedicated to protecting Grand County through proactive wildfire mitigation, emergency response, and community education. Co-funded position of Assistant Chief of Special Operations supports collaborative projects in wildland, water rescue, hazmat, and unmanned aviation. This partnership enables shared personnel and equipment, national deployments, and force multiplication for both districts.
• Headwaters Rescue AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Multi-agency unified approach to incident response for any body of water within Grand County, founded by GLFPD, Grand Fire, EGFPD, GC Sheriff's Office, and GC EMS. Created faster and more cohesive care for aquatic emergency incidents. Partnering agencies share resources, filling gaps with equipment and expertise. HRA has purchased underwater ROV and is building financial plan for sonar equipment and watercraft.
• Grand County EMScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMS partnership providing enhanced ambulance response and services as voted by constituents in 2019 mill levy. Collaboration ensures coordinated emergency medical services throughout the county.
• East Grand Fire Protection DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTyler Campbell, Division Chief of Special Operations, continues to serve as volunteer firefighter with EGFD, maintaining interagency relationships and mutual aid capabilities.
• U.S. Forest Service (USFS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildland Coordinator Brian Faith began his fire service career at Rocky Mountain National Park (USFS) from 2000-2007. Division maintains mutual aid with county and federal partners for wildland fire operations.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Wildland Division personnel gain experience with BLM wildland divisions through national deployments and incident support.
• National Park Service (NPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrian Faith served with NPS wildland divisions from 2007-2020. Division provides wildland fire suppression and response support to Rocky Mountain National Park within GLFPD service area.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrian Faith gained experience with TNC wildland divisions from 2007-2020. Partnership supports conservation and wildfire mitigation efforts.
• Grand County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrand County provides pile burn permits through Natural Resources, administers short-term rental licensing, and operates the Grand County Alerts emergency notification system. GLFPD participates in county-wide wildfire mitigation and Community Wildfire Prevention Plan (CWPP).
• Grand County Wildfire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLFPD participates in the Grand County Wildfire Council which coordinates wildfire preparedness, restrictions, and public education. GLFPD links to Council's website for fire restriction information and 911 reflective address signs program.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Big Sky Fire Department: Montana mountain-resort fire/EMS district serving the Big Sky community — comparable WUI, tourism-driven incident volume, and combination staffing, though in a different regulatory jurisdiction.
• Jackson Hole Fire/EMS: Wyoming combined fire/EMS district serving Jackson Hole and adjacent national forest — similar high-WUI, high-tourism profile with combination staffing and interagency wildland response.
• Alpine Fire Protection District: Utah special district serving the Alpine/Highland area near a wildland-urban interface — comparable combination-department model with voter-approved property-tax funding.

Direct peers

• Estes Valley Fire Protection District: Colorado mountain fire district serving Estes Park and adjacent RMNP gateway communities — comparable WUI exposure, tourism-driven call volume, and combination-department model.
• Grand Fire Protection District: Adjacent Grand County fire district and the Joint Wildland Division partner. Operates an overlapping mountain-territory combination department with shared apparatus, personnel, and national deployment income — the closest operational and structural peer.
• Roaring Fork Fire Rescue: Colorado mountain special district serving Aspen-area communities with combination staffing, wildland-urban interface exposure, and mill-levy funding — analogous funding-and-service profile.
• Lake Dillon Fire Rescue: Summit County special district serving Dillon/Silverthorne/Frisco — comparable combination department, property-tax-funded resort-area EMS/fire model with mutual aid obligations to neighboring districts.
• Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District: Summit County special district covering Breckenridge and surrounding resort communities — similar voter-approved mill-levy funding model, high short-term-rental demand, and mountain rescue profile.
• East Grand Fire Protection District: Neighboring Grand County fire district providing mutual aid; combination department serving Fraser/Winter Park area with similar mountain-terrain EMS and wildland exposure.

Broad incumbents

• Summit County Ambulance Service: Countywide EMS provider in a comparable Colorado mountain resort region; broader geographic scope but similar EMS-heavy call mix (~60% medical) and special-district-style public funding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grand-lake-fire-protection-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Grand Lake Fire Protection District