As autumn’s crisp winds signal the season of gratitude, Loveland’s community gathers around their dining tables, pausing to reflect on the people who protect, serve, and give us a reason to feel safe. Among those we owe thanks to, Loveland’s firefighters, led by Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach, stand at the forefront—guardians of not only our homes but of our collective sense of security.
For Sendelbach, firefighting isn’t just a job; it’s a way of life, rooted deeply in his upbringing. “I’m second-generation,” he explains, recalling his father, who rose to fire chief in his local volunteer department. “This is all I’ve ever done.” He talks about the sacrifices that come with the role, how it wore on his family—his mother and two older sisters, who had to adjust to the demands of a lifestyle that often called him away from home at a moment’s notice.
This deep-seated sense of duty has followed Sendelbach throughout his career and found its greatest test in Loveland’s recent Alexander Mountain fire. “9,668 acres burned. Twenty-nine homes were lost, and four more were severely damaged. It was a battle,” he recalls. But even amid the devastation, one truth emerged—community solidarity.
In the face of this harrowing blaze, it was Loveland’s firefighters, many of whom live in the same neighborhoods they protect, who stepped forward. “You know, it’s our neighbors, our friends, our families,” Sendelbach says. “To someone on the outside, it’s just fuel burning, but to us, it’s memories, irreplaceable ones.” He shares the story of Battalion Chief Kevin Hessler, who was first on the scene and is remembered for his poignant statement that became a rallying cry: “It started here, and it’s going to end here.”
The Alexander Mountain fire wasn’t just a test of firefighting tactics; it was a trial of emotional endurance. Firefighters worked in the most extreme conditions—treacherous terrain, thick smoke, the ever-present risk of injury—rotating through 12-hour shifts, pushing themselves to the brink, both physically and mentally. The decision to engage in the fire was challenged by outside resources unfamiliar with Loveland’s landscape, but it was the local knowledge and steadfastness of the LFRA that prevailed. As Chief Sendelbach puts it, “We were ready to go it alone if we had to, and that’s not something you say lightly.”
At the heart of LFRA’s mission are their core values: Commitment, Compassion, and Courage—the 3Cs engraved on every piece of apparatus and stitched into the very fabric of their culture. These values weren’t just words during the Alexander Mountain fire; they were lived truths. Firefighters, exhausted from days of relentless work, found solace and strength in each other. “The kitchen table is where it all comes together,” says Sendelbach. “Just like a family, we sit down, crack jokes, and check in with each other.”
This camaraderie, this brotherhood and sisterhood, was on full display during the fire. Even when it seemed the flames might consume the entire mountain, Loveland’s firefighters held fast, never wavering in their determination to save what they could. Incredibly, despite the initial assessment predicting far worse destruction, over 150 homes were spared from the fire’s grip.
In moments like these, the community’s appreciation for their firefighters becomes palpable. “I can’t eat lunch at a restaurant without someone tapping me on the shoulder to say thank you,” Sendelbach says with pride. Loveland is a place that recognizes the sacrifice of its fire department, and that gratitude has never been more apparent than during and after the Alexander Mountain fire. Yet, as with any profession, challenges remain. “We need more than what we started with,” Sendelbach acknowledges, reflecting on the rising costs of equipment and the ever-growing demands of a community that continues to expand.
For the men and women of LFRA, service to the community goes beyond fighting fires. It’s about protecting the place they call home and ensuring that future generations can do the same. As Chief Sendelbach so movingly puts it, “This community is special. I’m not here to fix a problem, but to build upon the solid foundation that already exists.”
In the quiet reflection of this Thanksgiving season, Loveland has much to be thankful for. Through the courage of its firefighters, the leadership of its fire chief, and the resilience of its community, the flames of the Alexander Mountain fire were extinguished. And though scars remain, they serve as a testament to a truth Loveland knows well: it’s not just about where the fire started—it’s about the strength of those who came together to ensure it ended here, with them.
“It started here, and it’s going to end here.”
“It’s our neighbors, our friends, our families. To someone on the outside, it’s just fuel burning, but to us, it’s memories, irreplaceable ones.”