Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse, Pettersen Urge FEMA to Support Ongoing Fire Response Efforts in Colorado

WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, along with Representatives Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen, urged FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell for additional federal assistance for the State of Colorado to respond to fires burning across the Front Range, including the Alexander Mountain Fire in Larimer County and the Stone Canyon Fire in Boulder County.

"Weather conditions across Colorado are expected to continue to fuel these fires, driven by high winds and extreme temperatures, which could put thousands more Coloradans at risk," wrote the lawmakers. "We urge FEMA to utilize all available resources at your disposal in response to these disasters, and appreciate your ongoing partnership in these efforts."

Earlier this week, FEMA authorized a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG), making funding available to pay 75 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating, and controlling designated fires through the reimbursable program. As new fires continue to develop, the lawmakers are urging FEMA to consider increasing the federal cost share to cover up to 100-percent of the costs covered under the FMAG declarations.

Hickenlooper and his colleagues also called on the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) to provide additional support for the State of Colorado to battle the ongoing wildfires.

Read the full letter HERE and below.

Dear Administrator Criswell,

We write to request your strong support for the State of Colorado as it continues to battle several ongoing wildfires across the state that threaten homes and communities. We appreciate the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) quick response in granting the State of Colorado's Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) request for the suppression costs of the Alexander Mountain and Stone Canyon Fires. We write to request you provide additional federal resources at your disposal as the fires continue to progress. We also request that FEMA consider increasing the federal cost share to cover up to 100 percent of the costs covered under the current FMAG declarations as well as future FMAG declarations.

Due to extreme heat and drought, we understand that federal, state, and local firefighting assets are stretched thin, as wildfires rage across the western United States, including in Colorado. In the span of 48 hours, several new wildfires have started across the State-including the Alexander Mountain Fire in Larimer County and the Stone Canyon and Lakeshore Fires in Boulder County. These fires have collectively prompted thousands of individuals and families to evacuate their homes, burned at least five structures, and sadly claimed the life of one member of our community.

The Alexander Mountain Fire has burned more than 7,600 acres and has prompted mandatory evacuations for more than 4,000 people-threatening more than 2,000 homes and other structures. The Stone Canyon Fire has burned more than 1,500 acres and at least five structures.

Governor Jared Polis has issued a verbal declaration of a disaster emergency for the Stone Canyon, Alexander Mountain, and Currant Creek Fires to activate state resources. Boulder and Larimer Counties have acted swiftly to activate their local resources, in addition to those provided by the State of Colorado and neighboring states and counties. Weather conditions across Colorado are expected to continue to fuel these fires, driven by high winds and extreme temperatures, which could put thousands more Coloradans at risk.

We urge FEMA to utilize all available resources at your disposal in response to these disasters, and appreciate your ongoing partnership in these efforts. Thank you for your support in this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

###

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.