DENVER ~ Denver, CO - Governor Jared Polis has taken action to address the critical fire conditions in Colorado by signing an Executive Order declaring a disaster emergency. This decision comes as multiple fires continue to burn and pose a threat to communities across the state.

In a statement, Governor Polis expressed his pride in the efforts of firefighters and the collaboration between state and local governments to protect people, property, and livestock during this challenging fire season. He also emphasized the importance of early detection and suppression efforts in partnership with local communities.

The Executive Order does not target any specific fire but instead supports the overall response to wildfires in the state. It builds upon existing Executive Orders and provides additional resources for initial aggressive attack on new fires. The Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) will work closely with local agencies to preposition resources before fires occur or when they are first detected. These resources include overhead support, aviation, handcrews, modules, engines, and other assets eligible for Wildfire Emergency Response Funding.

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Additionally, the Executive Order authorizes the use of the Colorado National Guard for fire response as requested by the Colorado Department of Public Safety.

To further support these efforts, $2.5 million has been allocated into the Wildfire Emergency Response Fund (WERF). This funding will supplement the $1.7 million that has already been expended due to historic fire activity and increased need for state support.

It is important to note that this Executive Order will not replace individual orders for wildfires that exceed local capacity and become State Responsibility fires. Its purpose is to allow for early detection and aggressive initial attack on fires before they become large and costly incidents that exceed local capacity.

Currently, there are 2,395 personnel assigned to 9 large fires that have burned over 185,000 acres. There are also 24 uncontained fires across Colorado. The firefighting efforts involve 41 aircraft from federal, state, National Guard, county, and local agencies.

The state's own agencies are also contributing to the efforts. The Division of Fire Prevention and Control, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the Colorado State Patrol have all provided over 100 personnel and resources such as firefighters, engines, recovery and damage assessment teams, and traffic control.

With this Executive Order in place, Governor Polis hopes to minimize the displacement of people and damage to property while keeping Colorado open for business during this challenging fire season.

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