Lower Valley Professional Firefighters

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Lower Valley Professional Firefighters

The IAFF Local #5265 represents the professional firefighters of the Lower Valley Fire Protection Di

05/30/2026

What do firefighters do on a Saturday morning when there’s a 5K honoring a headless chicken?

Naturally, we run it in full turnout gear.

This morning, 8 members of Lower Valley Firefighters took on the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival 5K in full gear to represent our department, our profession, and maybe make everyone else feel a little better about their pace.

Turns out running 3.1 miles while dressed for a structure fire isn’t the most efficient race strategy—but it was a great time and a great way to be part of one of Fruita’s most unique traditions.

Congratulations to all of the runners who participated today, especially those who somehow managed to outrun a group of firefighters. We promise we’re much faster when there’s an actual emergency.

A huge thank you to the City of Fruita and everyone involved in organizing another fantastic Mike the Headless Chicken Festival. We love being part of a community that can celebrate a headless chicken with this much enthusiasm, and we’re proud to take part in the traditions and culture that make Fruita such a special place.

See you next year—same race, same gear, hopefully slightly better conditioning.

🚒🏃‍♂️🐔

05/25/2026

Today we honor those who answered their nation’s call and made the ultimate sacrifice. As firefighters, we understand service, duty, and commitment to something greater than ourselves. We remember those who gave everything for the freedoms we enjoy every day. Never forgotten.

05/14/2026

A few weeks after one of the toughest days for this family, we got to experience one of the best parts of the job. ❤️

Today, the family from the Greenbriar structure fire stopped by the station to visit Green Crew — and they brought Piper with them. 🐾

During the fire, firefighters rescued Piper from inside the home and revived her on scene before reuniting her with her family. Today, we got to see her healthy, happy, and soaking up all the attention from the crew.

This family has shown incredible strength, positivity, and kindness in the aftermath of the fire, and we are truly grateful they took the time to come see us. Moments like this remind us that the fire service is about more than emergency response — it’s about community, compassion, and being there for people on both the hardest and happiest days.

Thank you for stopping by and letting us see Piper again. It absolutely made our day.

Nice work by Green Crew and all assisting agencies involved that day.

05/02/2026

We showed up, stood strong, and made it happen.
This victory isn’t just about a sales tax—it’s about protecting our community, strengthening our future, and making sure help is always there when it’s needed most.
Proud of every firefighter, every supporter, and every voice that helped push this across the finish line. Today we celebrate—tomorrow we keep serving.

04/12/2026

As the Desert Rats Trail Running Festival comes to a close, the Lower Valley Professional Firefighters want to give a well-earned shoutout to a few of our own who decided running ridiculous distances sounded like a good time.

Congratulations to:
• Captain Anthony Padilla – 100K (yes… 100 😳)
• Firefighter Anton Knepprath – 50K
• Firefighter Juliette Killeen – 50K
• Firefighter Skylar Smith – 50K
• Firefighter Collin Metzgar – 21K

Any of these distances is no small feat and takes serious dedication, training, and a little bit of stubbornness. We’re proud to see our crew pushing limits out on the trail just like they do on the job.

Congratulations to everyone who took part in this weekend’s events — now go hydrate, refuel, and maybe avoid stairs for a few days. 👏

04/08/2026

Today, we want to say one simple thing: thank you.

Because of your support, Referred Issue A has been approved by the voters. This outcome reflects a community that values public safety, trusts its first responders, and is willing to invest in the people and services that protect it every day.

This funding will go directly toward additional personnel and updated equipment—helping ensure we can continue to provide the high-quality, reliable service our community deserves, both now and into the future.

We also recognize that this investment comes from you, the taxpayers. We are committed to being responsible stewards of these funds, using them wisely, transparently, and with the same dedication we bring to every call.

We are proud to serve this community—many of us call it home—and we are incredibly grateful for the trust you’ve placed in us.

From all of us at Lower Valley Professional Firefighters Local 5265: thank you for standing with us and prioritizing public safety.

04/06/2026

Public safety is something the Fruita community relies on every single day—and something we are proud to provide.

From structure fires and medical emergencies to vehicle accidents and wildland responses, the firefighters of the Lower Valley Fire Protection District work alongside the Fruita Police Department to serve and protect our community when it matters most.

Over the past year, emergency calls have increased by 10%, while staffing levels have remained the same. Like many growing communities, Fruita is seeing a higher demand for emergency services.

This April, voters will consider Referred Measure A—a proposed 0.2% sales tax increase to support public safety. For residents, that equates to about 20 cents for every $100 spent.

If approved, this measure would help support:
✅ Hiring additional Firefighter/EMTs and a Fire Inspector
✅ Adding police officers to strengthen patrol and traffic safety
✅ Recruitment and retention of qualified public safety professionals
✅ Replacement of aging fire apparatus and essential equipment

Even with this adjustment, Fruita’s sales tax would remain lower than Grand Junction’s. A sales tax also ensures that visitors who come to Fruita to recreate, shop, and dine contribute to the emergency services they rely on while they are here.

Our goal is simple: to ensure our community continues to receive the timely, high-quality emergency response it expects—and that our firefighters and police officers have the resources they need when seconds count.

We are proud to serve this community every day and grateful for the continued support.

📢 Ballots must be turned in by 7:00 PM tomorrow. Please take a moment to vote and make your voice heard.

Learn more about Referred Measure A here:
https://www.lvfdlocal5265.com/

04/05/2026

🚨 MUTUAL AID… OR RECRUITMENT WARS? 🚨

We see you, Colorado State Patrol 👀

Rolling through our district trying to “recruit” our firefighters… we get it—when you see LVFD talent out in the wild, it’s hard not to shoot your shot.

Must be a little jealous of the best job in the valley 😉

Nice try though—we’re gonna hang onto this one.

If you really want to be like us, you’re always welcome to come train… we’ll even teach you how to cut open some cars.

All jokes aside—always great working alongside our partners at CSP… just don’t get any ideas 😏

Address

Fruita, CO
81521

Website

https://lvfdlocal5265.com/

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