Crystal Lakes Fire Protection District

The Crystal Lakes Fire Protection District (CLFPD) is situated within the wildland-urban intermix of Larimer County, Colorado, approximately fifty miles northwest of Fort Collins. Surrounded by the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, the District encompasses about 5,000 acres of mountainous terrain, with elevations ranging from 8,000 to 9,500 feet. The landscape features grassy meadows, groves of aspen, pine forests, and several lakes. The community consists of more than 600 homes, cabins, and campsites across 1,700 lots, along with a community center, a small mountain resort featuring a restaurant, and nearly 95 miles of unpaved roads. Year-round and part-time residents as well as many seasonal visitors enjoy an array of recreational activities, such as hiking, fishing, paddle boarding, snowshoeing, ice-fishing, and wildlife watching.

 

A Special District - Governance

The Crystal Lakes Fire Protection District is designated as a “Special” District, established as a limited local government under Title 32 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. Formed in 1995, the District is governed by a Board of Directors who are elected officials representing the District’s residents. The District is primarily funded through property taxes collected from the communities it serves—Crystal Lakes, Beaver Meadows, Elk Ridge, Pearl Creek, Pearl Vistas, and Poudre Meadows. This Special District structure allows the District to provide unified fire protection and emergency services to several smaller communities and unincorporated areas, ensuring comprehensive coverage under a single provider.

 

The Department – Operations

The operational structure of the Crystal Lakes Fire Protection District closely mirrors that of a municipal fire department, with the Crystal Lakes Volunteer Fire Department (CLVFD) serving as its core. The Department operates under the leadership of the Fire Chief and is staffed entirely by dedicated volunteers who provide continuous emergency coverage. CLVFD responds to all fire, rescue, and emergency medical service calls within the District. In addition, CLVFD participates in mutual aid agreements with neighboring fire districts, including Red Feather Lakes, Glacier View, Livermore, Wellington, Poudre Canyon Fire Department, Larimer County EMS, and Forest Services. The District maintains an annual contract with the Red Feather Lakes Fire District for medical and ambulance services. Due to fire response often occurring in wildland areas that typically lack fire hydrant systems, the Department utilizes a variety of apparatus designed to transport water, such as the tender truck. Smaller fire trucks, known as brush trucks, are frequently used to reach remote locations and respond to wildland fires. The Crystal Lakes Volunteer Fire Department currently holds an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of 9.

The Crystal Lakes Fire Protection District Station is located at 237 Blackfoot Road.