About Northeast Teller County Fire District

Chief Lauria

The Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District fire Chief Is Nicholas Y. Lauria. He has been with the fire district since June 2007. Chief Lauria began his fire service career in Cripple Creek, CO as a volunteer in 1993. He spent a large portion of his time there gaining experience and education regarding the fire service and its responsibility to the public. Chief Lauria was promoted through the ranks and became Deputy Fire Chief in 1998, Acting Fire Chief in 2002 and the Fire Chief in 2003.

Chief Lauria holds numerous certifications and qualifications including Fire Officer III, a national certification as a Fire Inspector, Colorado Fire Inspector III, a national certification as a Fire Investigator and several National Wildfire Coordinating Group qualifications in wildland fire management. The Chief is an alumnus of the National Fire Academy and the Maryland Fire Recuse Institute Staff and Command program. Chief Lauria serves at the pleasure of the NETCFPD Board of Directors.

Chief Lauria is involved with several organizations ranging from local to state level including the Teller County Fire Chiefs' Association (founder), Colorado State Fire Chiefs' Association, CSFCA Wildland Fire Section and the South Central All-Hazards Region Executive Board. His participation with these organizations allows him to ensure that the NETCFPD provides their service with the most current industry standards. He also works with many organizations to promote interagency cooperation and make available a wide spectrum of resources to the residents of the fire district. His grant writing efforts have brought over $3M in resources to the area during his career including the Teller County Hazardous Materials Team and interoperable communications equipment and infrastructure.

The Chief and his wife have been residents of the county for over eighteen years.

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General Dept info

The Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District provides a complete range of emergency services to the residents and visitors of the district.  We encompass the City of Woodland Park, CO and the surrounding unincorporated county from the Teller County line on the East to Johnson’s Hill on the west.  Our jurisdiction goes north to the Douglas County line and south to El Paso County although this is well into the Pike National Forest.  We are almost completely surrounded by the Pike National Forest and Pike’s Peak (el. 14,110’) sits squarely to our south. 

We are a combination fire district comprised of career and volunteer members available at Station 1 24/7 to serve you.  We respond to fires, traffic accidents and medical calls for service.  We provide fire education through our schools, CPR and first aid classes at Station 1, inspection and plan review services, burn permits and pre-ignition inspections and general public service and information through a sundry of special events.

NETCFPD is an ISO fire protection class 5 within the City of Woodland Park and within 5 road miles of Station 3 on Edlowe Road.  All other areas of the District are ISO Class 9 within 5 road miles of our stations otherwise it is a 10.  We have intergovernmental agreements will all of our neighbors for mutual aid and cooperate with both the Colorado State Forest Service and the U.S. Forest Service.  We also have members that have a specialized background in wild land fire suppression.

Our mission is to provide you with the best fire protection services possible.  We will answer your questions as best as possible and if we don’t know the answer, will point you in the right direction.  Feel free to contact us at Station 1, 719-687-1866 at your convenience.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

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Stats/Data

Demographics: List of Demographic Information

• NETCFPD Budget
• City of Woodland Park Budget
• Woodland Park Population
• Call Volume
• Organizational Chart
• District Ownership
• Major Events

• Voters approved mil levy change in 2003
• The budget has increased 63.5% since 2002

• The City of Woodland Park has seen an approximate 28.7% increase since budget year 2002

• Population in the City of Woodland Park has grown approximately 3.9% since 2002

• Since 2002, NETCFPD has had a 24.3% increase in the number of service calls we respond to each year.
• Our average service call load is 2.83 calls per day

Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District Ownership

Total District Area: 82.125 mi.2 (52,560 ac.)
Private Land: 42.275mi.2 (27,056ac.): 51.5%
City of Woodland Park: 6.51mi.2 (4,166ac.) 7.9%
USFS (Pike Nat’l Forest): 38.2mi.2 (24,448ac.) 46.5%
BLM 0.65mi.2 (416ac.) 0.8%
State Trust 1mi.2 (640ac.) 1.2%

The primary responsibility of the Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District is the private property within our 82⅛ square miles.  Private property represents 51.5% of the District area equating to 42.275mi.2   We provide our services to the state and federal property in the District through agreements with these partners.  In the event of wild land fire we would most likely provide mutual or automatic aid to the U.S. Forest Service.  On the small parcels of Bureau of Land Management land and Colorado State lease land, we would most likely provide first due fire suppression services.

Major Historical Events

1891

• Town of Woodland Park Colorado is incorporated on June 6th.

1974

• Woodland Park Volunteer Fire Department signed a 10-year lease with the Town of Woodland Park for a garage called the Town and Country Fire Station at City Hall, 220 W. South Ave. for a total of $77,365.  We paid $3.50 per square foot for City Hall and $3.00 per square foot for the garage across the street.

1978

• City of Woodland Park Colorado purchases a new 1978 E-One structural engine for the Woodland park Volunteer Fire department.  Chief Al Spratford initiates this contract for a purchase price of $56,925.

1985

• February 6, 1985 Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District was formed.  Greg Heule was the Chairman of the Board.
• District purchases 1978 E-One structural engine (E-3) and 1955 International structural engine from the City of Woodland Park on December 1st

1986

• Bond issue passed by District voters to build Station 1, 1010 County Rd. (now Evergreen Heights Dr.)

1986-1992

• District hires two part-time paid Fire Inspectors

1987

• District purchased new 1987 Pierce pumper tender (T-3)

1988

• Station 1 at 1010 County Rd. was moved into and opened for service to the community

1991

• Tranquil Acres Station 2 is retired
• Lease made with United States Forest Service at the Manitou Experimental Forest for Station 2
• Master Plan for District completed by contractor

1992

• First paid Fire Chief, Michael B. Smith

1994

• First full-time Fire Inspector hired
• District retires first fire apparatus (E-712)

1995

• Referendum A & B passed by voters for the addition of six full-time firefighters
• Four part-time firefighters were hired for day shifts

1996

• District hires six full-time firefighters in January
• Hired additional “floater” firefighter in August

1999

• Millennium tree for the White House was harvested from the Pike National Forest from within the Fire District
• District creates three captain positions i.e. one per shift

2001

• The “Texas Seven” are apprehended at the Coachlight Motel & RV Park in Woodland Park by local and Federal law enforcement officers on January 21st.  Four were arrested and one committed suicide.
• District constructs Station 3, 35 Edlowe Rd. with funding from the State gaming grant.  Land was donated by CDOT for the Edlowe Road realignment.

2002

• June, Hayman Fire burns into the NETCFPD. Fire reaches nearly 139,000 acres. Largest in Colorado history

2003

• District Purchases General Type 3 engine (E-1)
• District increases mil levy by voter approval to build addition on to Station 1, 1010 Evergreen Heights Dr.

2006

• District creates three engineer positions i.e. one for each shift

2007

• District creates two new career positions: Deputy Fire Chief and Executive Assistant
• Our first “big box” store (Walmart) opens after much controversy
• Pikes Peak Regional Hospital opens on Bluebird Hill