The LavaBox Story

Designed by raft guides for rafts guides.

Let's Make Something Better...

During forest fire season in the heart of the Rockies a group of raft guides and kayakers got together for one of the last trips of the year. While trying out a “portable” backyard fire pit, someone joked about putting the behemoth on a raft. Everyone laughed—but it sparked an idea. What if you COULD put a fire inside the most used piece of gear on the boat: the humble ammo can? Raft guides need the most rugged tools that they can get their hands on, and ammo cans find their way on rafts (and battlefields) for this reason. They are so tough you can light them on fire…so we did! The rest is warm—and safe—history. Fire Anytime!

Josh Thurmond , Chief Eruption Officer

Josh is the inventor of LavaBox. He is also in charge of making sure every LavaBox gets out the door to you. When he is not making LavaBoxes, he develops outdoor adventure programs for people with disabilities at the National Sports Center for the Disabled. He also volunteers for Team River Runner and sits on the Board for the Colorado Whitewater Association. Needless to say, if you are looking for him, he is probably surfing on his SUP or doing enders on a sweet eddyline.

Sylvia Thurmond , Chief Fire Officer

As in, she will “Fire” Josh if he doesn’t get things right! She is also in charge of the finances. Sylvia is also a DNA Analysis at the Denver Crime Laboratory and has been doing this work for almost 30 years! She has worked on body identification for mass tragedies like the the Thailand Tsunami and The World Trade Center 9/11 attacks. If you are looking for Sylvia, you can find her driving a raft with a craft beer in her PFD.

Chloe-Anne Hendricks, Wordsmith

Chloe’s our copywriter and marketing strategist. She ensures our words have the flare to match our LavaBoxes. She relates to Chandler Bing in the sense that nobody ever understands what she does for a living. Her mixed bag of experience includes teaching English as a second language, conducting conservation fieldwork for nonprofits in Thailand, bartending, and writing copy for outdoor gear brands. If she’s not at the laptop, you can assume she’s wakeboarding, climbing rocks, or running off to a 4WD spot with her dogs and husband.

Meredith Mentzer, Special Projects Manager

Meredith thrives on variety. Instead of "what does Meredith do?" It’s "what hasn’t Meredith done?" Meredith’s professional background includes project managing marketing/communications campaigns and e-commerce programs at a retail headquarters. Meredith’s fun background includes selling snowboards and camping gear, working for the airlines, and serving beer for a pass at Snowbird. And that's why she's the Special Projects Manager.

Her choice of sports includes snowboarding, surfing, hiking, camping, riding bikes, SUP, and yoga... to name a few.

Meredith has lived all over chasing dreams, snow, and surf.  Littleton is home as of late. As long as Meredith is by mountains or the ocean, she’s a happy camper.

Kevin Wagner, Fire Stoker

Kevin, or K-Ice if you're nasty, is a rapper and an dancer who loves adventure. Be sure to check out his music and moves on Spotify and Youtube!

Chase Nelson, Mtn West Sales

Chase has rafted Colorado’s rivers, bombed mountain bike trails, and carved powder in the Rockies — but his favorite adventures are the ones he shares with his wife, baby daughter, and two rowdy dogs. The outdoors isn’t just where he plays, it’s where his family feels most at home. That’s why he loves being part of LavaBox: keeping the fire alive while protecting the wild places we all depend on. Built to be fire-safe even during bans, LavaBox helps adventurers gather around the flame without risking wildfires. For Chase, whether it’s swapping stories under the stars, warming up after a river run, or perfecting the art of a slightly burnt marshmallow, every adventure deserves a campfire — and every wild space deserves to be protected. Want to work with Chase? chase@fireanytime,com

Seth Holloway, East Coast Sales

Seth hails from the South and you can't miss his distinguished southern drawl...and charm. Seth is an Air Force veteran and avid whitewater kayaker. He has a big heart too! He loves to volunteer with veteran organizations and with people with disabilities. If you have a outdoor store east of the ol' Mississip, talk to seth@fireanytime.com.