Colorado declares statewide disaster emergency, as dozens of wildfires blaze
Colorado has declared a statewide disaster emergency as two dozen uncontained wildfires rage across the state.
Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Aug. 14, declaring the disaster emergency, citing continued fire risk and weather conditions that have already led to fires so large they have broken records. Colorado is one of several western states currently facing large wildfires in sweltering summer conditions.
'We are actively supporting fire detection and suppression efforts on multiple fronts,' Polis said in a statement announcing the order. 'This new action will bolster our ability to jump on fires early in partnership with local communities, and will help ensure the state, in partnership with local communities, has the resources necessary to combat wildfires this season.'
The order doesn't specify any one fire, but aims to address the state's overall response.
The ongoing Lee Fire, which has burned over 123,000 acres as of the morning of Aug. 14, is one of the state's largest in history and has forced evacuations in western Colorado, including one at a state prison. That fire is just 3% contained, according to InciWeb, a federal government website that monitors wildfires. The Lee Fire is already the fifth-largest fire in state history in terms of acreage.
The order also authorizes the use of the Colorado National Guard for fire response, as requested by state public safety officials, according to the governor's office. The order hasn't yet called on those units to be deployed.
Currently, Colorado has nearly 2,400 people assigned to fighting nine large fires, which have burned more than 185,000 acres, the governor's order said. In total, 24 fires are raging without control across the state.
The governor's order to combat wildfires remains in effect for 30 days unless Polis extends it in a subsequent executive order.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
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