COLORADO (KOAA) — Colorado Governor Jared Polis has officially requested a major disaster declaration for two destructive wildfires burning in the state this summer.
The Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo and Custer counties and the Gold Mountain Fire in Ouray County have combined to burn over 140,000 acres, destroying 324 homes. The fires started just days apart in late June.
Polis is asking for federal aid to span from June 27 to July 29.
"Colorado has committed significant resources to this response, but the scale of this disaster requires a strong partnership among federal, state, and local governments for a successful recovery," Polis said.
The governor said the state is trying to assess the damage "by the book" to properly support affected Coloradans.
The request also addresses flooding and debris following the fires. One week ago today, a Beulah man died after being caught in floodwaters. Officials warn that after fires burn the ground, it does not absorb water and instead runs off, causing flash floods. In Ouray County, 17 people were rescued from flooding on July 29.
Both counties have seen repeated highway closures and evacuations ordered for both fires and floods.
Polis is asking FEMA for three forms of support:
- Individual Assistance for Pueblo and Custer counties to address temporary housing and disaster recovery assistance.
- Public Assistance for all three counties to help local agencies cover the costs of recovery.
- Hazard Mitigation Grant Funding to find long-term solutions to reduce potential impacts.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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