Coloradans should avoid exertion outdoors and minimize exposure while there are active wildfires. If you are experiencing symptoms that might be related to the poor air quality, please get a free, quick, and easy COVID-19 test. Find a testing location near you at covid19.colorado.gov/testing.
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Today, Governor Polis was joined by Scott Jalbert, Rocky Mountain Area Commander, Stan Hilkey, Public Safety Executive Director, Mike Morgan, Director of Fire Prevention and Control, Kevin Klein, Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and Greg Hanson, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service Boulder Forecast Office to provide an update on wildfires currently active in the state, and measures the state is taking to support communities impacted by the fires.
The Governor’s thoughts are with every Coloradan who has had to flee their home or leave their community behind due to the threat of fires. This year has brought unprecedented challenges; a global pandemic, consequent economic struggles, and historic wildfires. There is no doubt Coloradans have had to sacrifice a lot. Even in the midst of a pandemic, the state has been monitoring these fires very closely and working with incident command centers and local officials, who are taking the lead on the response, to ensure that communities get the resources they need.
Today, an evacuation order was issued for residents of Estes Park. Unfortunately, Estes Park has had to face down natural disasters before, as the area was severely impacted by the 2013 Colorado Floods. The city is also a major throughway for residents of the area and tourists visiting neighboring mountain towns during the fall and winter months.
Yesterday, the town of Grand Lake was asked to evacuate as the East Troublesome Fire moved closer to town. As of this morning, the fire stands at 125,602 acres, up from roughly 19,000 acres yesterday, which means the fire grew more than 100,000 acres in the last 24 hours. This makes the East Troublesome Fire the fourth largest in state history and it is only 5% contained at this point.
Last night, the Governor authorized the Colorado National Guard to assist with search and rescue operations, as more than 6,500 homes were evacuated across the state. In addition to local evacuations, the Guard can assist with aerial reconnaissance and damage assessments.
This just goes to show how quickly these fires can move and evolve depending on the weather, which is why the state has built a strong coalition with folks who are helping lead the response from the state level to share the latest information.
Thankfully, Colorado is one of the top states in the nation for getting the resources we need as soon as they’re available. Our emergency aircraft fleet is on par with California and we have 3,000 firefighters out of 10,976 nationally.
Our top priority is to make sure the residents of Estes Park, Grand Lake, and all other evacuated communities are safe, while doubling down on our commitment to protecting homes and businesses from being devastated due to ongoing blazes.
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Interventions help save buildings and lives, but in real-time containment efforts, success often depends on the weather. Commander Scott Jalbert spoke to the role of weather and its impact on coordination efforts, explaining that the state’s objective is to closely coordinate with teams and agencies involved, while overseeing the execution of containment strategies and figuring out ways to enhance existing ones.
Commander Jalbert’s team has surveyed over 100,000 acres in Colorado around the Cameron Peak fire in order to assess the greatest needs and get resources to critically impacted communities. And there are fires on the west side of the continental divide, which are also threatening the Cameron Peak Fire.
The significant speed of many of these fires is caused by high speed winds, of which the transition of the winds’ directions often exacerbates conditions. Due to current Red Flag conditions, we will still see critical fire behavior in the next 24-36 hours. Driven by those winds, Cameron Peak continues to move both north and south. The primary strategy now is to focus on life by making sure everyone is evacuated before carrying out the point protection process, a response strategy which protects highly valued resources from the wildfire.
Typically, there is more snowfall accumulated by this time of year. However, this year is much drier, hotter, and we have seen this arid trend sustained for longer. The best chance for precipitation will come over the weekend, with a few inches of rainfall expected in the foothills, as well as the mountains and valleys. This will not be a wildfire season-ender, but it will provide a buffer to beat some fire activity back. And taking advantage of improved weather conditions will be critical to aiding resource allocation, containment, and relief efforts.
These blazes largely represent the destructive impacts of climate change-induced drought, and serves as a painful reminder that ‘climate refugees’ don’t just live in coastal areas, as 14% of the Red Cross shelter population in the United States are from Colorado.
This season’s fires have led to some of the worst air quality in recent memory, making it difficult for people to breathe or feel comfortable being outside their homes. This year alone, the state issued 153 smoke advisories, compared to 133 in 2018; and in 2018, five of the top 20 fires in our state’s history occurred.
While these numbers are staggering, Colorado has been through this before, and luckily, the majority of the state's 66 million acres remain open and safe for Coloradans to frequent.
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EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AND PROPERTY PRESERVATION |
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CDPS Director Stan Hilkey discussed the role of state, federal, and local authorities in mitigating the impact of these fires. Whether authorities are federal or local, the Division of Fire Prevention and Control is very engaged in coordinating with authorities. Homeland Security will play a big role in managing recovery and response efforts, as well as the Colorado State Patrol. And in the last 24 hours, the Colorado State Patrol has been instrumental in evacuating residents affected by the East Troublesome Fire, and will continue to help those areas where burned acreage has grown exponentially in a short amount of time.
Kevin Klein, Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management provided an update on State Emergency Operations support, as well as resource management, sheltering operations and the damage assessment process.
As wildfires grow in activity and complexity, management is transferred to the Division of Fire Prevention and Control. The state of emergency operations center is activated at level two, which is the second-highest level. Operations have been active on this level since the beginning of the COVID response, and are now actively engaged in operations related to the fires.
Priority number one is saving lives. Emergency ops are supporting search and rescue operations that ensure residents of affected areas are accounted for. These efforts include state and local first responders and the Colorado National Guard.
As far as evacuation planning goes, the Guard is working closely with the Colorado Department of Transportation and local government to evacuate areas in stages, and have worked to secure the following additional resources:
- Firefighters;
- Fire engines;
- 278 additional hotel rooms for evacuated residents; and
- Shelter operations in non-congregate settings due to COVID-19.
The Emergency Operations Center will start conducting damage assessments as soon as possible, and eventually work with FEMA for a potential disaster declaration. It is important to note that damage assessments are done carefully and accurately to catalog assessments in preparation for any requests for further federal aid.
In addition, the State Recovery Task Force will begin to work on projects for property preservation and reconstruction, with a focus on watersheds and critical infrastructure. Recovery and rebuilding will take time. Fortunately, the process has already begun. Emergency Operations Center and the Governor’s Office are committed to rebuilding communities quickly and safely.
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The Governor provided several ways for Coloradans at home to help. Financial donations are the best way to support people impacted by these wildfires, and allows for flexible and immediate support to meet each individuals’ needs. Find ways you can help below:
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Statewide: Through the partnership of verified organizations, Coloradans can give to the Colorado Responds fund to assist those who have been directly affected by fires across the state at ColoradoResponds.org.
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Boulder County Fires: To assist those impacted in the Boulder County area, please visit commfound.org/2020firesfund and BoulderCountyFires.com.
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Larimer County Fires: To assist those impacted in the Larimer County area, please visit LarimerCountyFires.com.
Coloradans can also sign up for emergency alerts today. We know that things change quickly with these fires and early notification can help save lives. Find out how to sign up for your county’s alert system at Colorado’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website or visit ColoradoFireAlerts.com.
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THANK YOU, FIRST RESPONDERS |
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The Governor today thanked our firefighters, sheriffs, and first responders, who are answering the call and delivering a rapid and robust response to these devastating and climate change-induced wildfires. Some responders are professionals and some are volunteers, but all are working day and night to help get a handle on these fires and protect our communities. This includes individuals who are nobly working around the clock within emergency operations centers.
These fires are causing untold misery for countless Coloradans who are displaced from their homes and fear they may not have a home to return to. While the health and safety of Colorado residents is most important, we must acknowledge the unimaginable pain that comes with loss of property and overnight changes to living circumstances. For those who have been evacuated, we all hope these Coloradans can return safely to their homes as soon as possible.
During containment efforts, we need to lift each other up and lend a helping hand, whether that’s donating to support the fire response, offering up your home to friends and family who’ve had to evacuate, or being ready to pick up the pieces and begin recovery efforts once these fires are over.
Coloradans are resilient, and the state is confident that we will come out of this even stronger - it’s just who we are; it’s part of our identity. No matter what, know that we are all in this together, and we will get through this together as a state.
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County clerks and recorders have mailed ballots to all registered voters in Colorado, and voting is underway. Reminder: The last suggested day to return a ballot through the mail is October 26, 2020. After this date, voters should visit a drop box or vote center to drop off their ballots.
Please visit govotecolorado.com to make a plan to vote before or on Election Day, November 3, 2020. Our democracy is strengthened when everyone participates.
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