Poudre Fire Authority Begins Remodeling Remote Wildfire Station in Redstone Canyon
Poudre Fire Authority began renovations on Station 11, a 30-year-old volunteer fire station serving one of the most fire-prone and remote areas in Larimer County, the agency announced October 15.
The station, built in 1995 to protect the Redstone Canyon area west of Fort Collins, operates seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day when wildfire risk peaks in the foothills. Volunteer firefighters staff the facility during those months to provide rapid response in an area accessible only by a single county road and forest service access roads.
The remodel will improve both the building's structure and the comfort and resources available to volunteer responders who protect the entirely wildland jurisdiction, according to PFA.
Remote Location Presents Unique Fire Risks
Station 11 serves the Redstone Canyon area, a classic wildland-urban interface zone characterized by private home sites interspersed with natural vegetation in steep, forested terrain. The area ranks among the most vulnerable communities in Larimer County due to challenging access, fuel loads, and history of major wildfires, according to the 2025 Poudre Fire Authority Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Access to Redstone Canyon is limited to Redstone Canyon Road, also known as Larimer County Road 25E, a narrow, winding, partially unpaved route that presents challenges for emergency response vehicles, particularly during adverse weather.
The 2012 High Park Fire burned large portions of Redstone Canyon, destroying structures and prompting evacuations. That fire ultimately consumed more than 87,000 acres and destroyed 259 homes across the region, including 27 within PFA's jurisdiction.
Land ownership in the area is divided between private parcels, Larimer County-managed public lands, and adjacent U.S. Forest Service territory in Roosevelt National Forest. PFA leads structure and wildland fire response on private land within its district, while the Forest Service manages fires on federal lands under mutual aid agreements.
Volunteer Model Addresses Seasonal Fire Danger
The seasonal staffing model at Station 11 reflects wildfire risk patterns in Northern Colorado foothills, where fire danger is highest during summer months. Volunteer and part-time firefighters staff the station during the Memorial Day through Labor Day period when conditions favor rapid fire spread.
Colorado law allows volunteer emergency services organizations to operate fire stations when certified with the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and operating under memorandums of understanding with county sheriffs or local government agencies.
PFA volunteers must complete 12 training sessions and work 48 hours per year minimum to maintain their positions. All wildland firefighters must obtain Red Card certification through completion of S-130 Basic Firefighter and S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior courses meeting National Wildfire Coordinating Group standards.
The authority operates two volunteer fire stations within its 230-square-mile service area. Station 11 and Station 9 focus specifically on wildland and rural response in areas where full-time career staffing is not economically feasible.
Current Station Provides Basic Apparatus Storage
The existing Station 11 building consists primarily of a large bay for fire apparatus with storage space, providing minimal amenities for volunteer firefighters who staff the remote location.
The remodel will address both structural improvements and upgrades to resources and comfort for volunteers who respond from the station. PFA did not provide specific details about the renovation scope, timeline, or cost in its October 15 announcement.
Authority Serves Extensive Urban and Wildland Territory
Poudre Fire Authority was established in 1981 through an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Fort Collins and Poudre Valley Fire Protection District, merging urban and rural fire services to improve emergency response.
The agency currently serves more than 200,000 residents across Fort Collins, Timnath, LaPorte, Bellvue, Horsetooth Reservoir, and portions of unincorporated Larimer and Weld counties. PFA operates 12 fire stations total, with both career-staffed urban stations and volunteer-staffed rural facilities.
The authority's jurisdiction includes significant wildland-urban interface areas on the west and south edges near foothills where wildfire risk is substantial. This distinguishes PFA from more urban-focused agencies like Loveland Fire Rescue Authority, which generally has higher urban-to-wildland ratios.
PFA maintains specialized wildland response capabilities due to frequent large wildfire incidents affecting foothills and interface areas within its service territory. Beyond the High Park Fire, the agency has responded to the Hewlett Fire, which burned 7,685 acres, and additional incidents originating outside but threatening PFA territory.