Colorado Leaders Plead for Trump to Assist in Wildfire Recovery

There are few things that Democratic Governor Jared Polis and Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert agree on. But today, the Colorado politicians are joining the call to urge President Donald Trump to help their state recover from recent wildfires.

Rio Blanco County in northwestern Colorado has been devastated by two wildfires that were sparked by lightning on August 2. The Elk fire burned over 14,500 acres for four weeks, according to InciWeb. The Lee fire has burned 137,758 acres so far, with 99 percent of the perimeter currently contained. That makes the Lee fire the fifth-largest wildfire in Colorado history.

The blazes and resulting mudslides have caused nearly $27.5 million in damage, according to state estimates.

Polis, Boebert and the rest of the state’s congressional delegation sent letters to Trump on September 26 and 29, requesting a presidential major disaster declaration. The declaration would allow the state to access funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support recovery efforts.

“The Elk and Lee fires ripped through Rio Blanco County, damaging property and critical infrastructure,” Polis says in a statement. “Damage from these fires and the subsequent flash flooding puts Colorado families, major energy production, and the local economy at risk.”

What a Federal Disaster Declaration Does

Polis declared a state disaster emergency on August 3 for the Elk fire and the Lee fire on August 6. He also authorized the deployment of the Colorado National Guard and unlocked over $18.5 million for fire fighting and recovery, according to the governor’s office.

However, a presidential major disaster declaration provides access to various federal assistance programs. Polis specifically requested the activation of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program for Rio Blanco County.

The FEMA grant program would fund local long-term efforts to reduce the impact of wildfires in the future; for example, reducing hazardous fuels, investing in early warning systems and implementing watershed and debris flow mitigation.

This comes as Colorado has suffered increasingly frequent and severe wildfires. The state saw around 7,200 fires annually from 2020 to 2023, compared to around 3,400 per year between 2000 and 2003. The twenty largest wildfires in Colorado have all occurred after 2001, including the state’s largest wildfire (Cameron Peak in 2020) and its most destructive wildfire (Marshall in 2021).

“Residents face ongoing hazards from the fire, including debris, burned trees, and threats to water quality and drinking water infrastructure,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter supporting Polis’ request. “Without additional support, residents could face increased electricity costs, oil and gas production could slow, and important habitat and grazing lands could be lost.”

The congressional delegation sent their letter on September 29, following no immediate response to Polis’s request on September 26. In it, they ask Trump for an “expedited review and approval of the Governor’s request.”

The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and U.S. Representatives Boebert, Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank, Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Gabe Evans, Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen.