Fort Collins Firefighter Featured in Magazine Profile of Northern Colorado First Responders
A Poudre Fire Authority firefighter was featured in a recent magazine article highlighting the experiences and daily readiness required of first responders across Fort Collins and the surrounding region.
Firefighter Landon Schmidt appeared in the October 2025 issue of NoCo Style Magazine alongside colleagues from Fort Collins Police Services and UCHealth, discussing the unpredictable nature of emergency response work.
"When that one call comes that you haven't run in three years, five years or maybe it's the first time in your career, you've got to be ready for it at all times," Schmidt said in the article written by Analisa Romano.
Schmidt described responding to a climbing accident in Poudre Canyon where a climber became stuck at high elevation. The rescue operation required approximately six hours to safely return the person to ground level.
"I was so thankful the crew I was with was very dialed in," Schmidt said. "They were ready for that type of call."
Technical Rescue Capabilities Critical in Canyon Territory
Poudre Canyon presents unique challenges for emergency responders, with steep terrain, granite cliff faces and limited access along Colorado State Highway 14. The canyon, carved by the Cache la Poudre River at elevations ranging from 5,000 to over 8,000 feet, hosts thousands of recreational climbers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts annually.
PFA firefighters assigned to technical rescue teams undergo specialized training in high-angle and technical rope rescue to standards set by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control and NFPA 1006. Required certifications include Rope Rescue Technician, Swiftwater Rescue and Confined Space Rescue, with annual recertification requirements.
The authority maintains a dedicated Technical Rescue Team composed of members from various stations who can be rapidly deployed for incidents involving mountain terrain or wilderness areas. The team operates specialized apparatus equipped with advanced rope systems, patient packaging equipment and mechanical advantage systems.
Technical rescue incidents in Poudre Canyon and other elevated terrains average several operations each year, including climbing accidents, vehicle rollovers down embankments and stranded recreationist recoveries. Incidents cluster during peak outdoor recreation season from May through September when river flows and activity levels are highest.
PFA recently achieved recognition as a dementia friendly agency after all firefighters completed specialized training in responding to people living with dementia during the department's fall training cycle.
Authority Serves 235 Square Miles Across Two Counties
Poudre Fire Authority serves approximately 235 square miles in northern Colorado, providing emergency services to Fort Collins, Timnath, LaPorte, Bellvue, Horsetooth, Redstone Canyon and unincorporated areas of Larimer and Weld counties.
The organization employs 248 full-time staff, including 207 uniformed firefighters and 41 civilian personnel, operating from 13 fire stations plus a dedicated training center. According to the authority's 2024 annual report, PFA serves around 206,000 residents.
PFA was established in 1981 through an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Fort Collins and the Poudre Valley Fire Protection District to consolidate fire protection services. The authority received accredited status from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International in 2015.
The "Behind the Badge" article in NoCo Style Magazine provided readers with insight into the training, preparation and teamwork required of first responders who serve the Fort Collins community. The full article is available on the NoCo Style Magazine website.