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Polis Declares Disaster Emergency As Ferris Fire Tops 57,000 Acres
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CBS Colorado, Approved, State

Polis Declares Disaster Emergency As Ferris Fire Tops 57,000 Acres

By: Christa Swanson | CBS Colorado The growing Ferris Fire in southwest Colorado has consumed over 50,000 acres, prompting Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to declare a disaster emergency. On Wednesday, the governor's office announced the verbal declaration, which activates the State Emergency Operations Plan and increases the resources available for containment efforts. Ferris Fire moves up steep terrain in the Glade Creek area. Ferris Fire Incident Command READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT CBS COLORADO
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Aspen Acres Fire Tops 91,000 Acres as New Evacuations Hit Fremont County
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The Colorado Sun, Approved, State

Aspen Acres Fire Tops 91,000 Acres as New Evacuations Hit Fremont County

By: Dana Coffield | The Colorado Sun The Willow fire near Leadville grew by 900 acres overnight spurring mandatory evacuation of areas southwest of the city. Ouray 100 race canceled because of Gold Mountain fire. The Aspen Acres fire southwest of Pueblo made another surge Sunday, bringing the total acres burned to 91,523, federal fire officials said, and making it the seventh largest wildfire on record in Colorado. Authorities said Thursday the fire was human-caused but released no further details about its origin as it raced northeast from near the Aspen Acres campground across Pueblo County, where it forced the evacuation of the towns of Beulah, Colorado City, Rye, San Isabel and Wetmore. Around 8:15 p.m. Sunday, the Fremont County sheriff issued a mandator...
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FEMA Approves Additional Fire Aid as Colorado Wildfires Burn Across State
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

FEMA Approves Additional Fire Aid as Colorado Wildfires Burn Across State

By Nicholas Fogleman | The Denver Gazette Gov. Jared Polis announced Sunday that FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Willow fire as firefighting efforts continue across the state. The Willow fire has placed more than 1,500 people under mandatory evacuation orders and another 2,100 residents under pre-evacuation notices, according to the governor’s office. The fire, reported June 28, has burned almost 4,000 acres and is 1% contained. “This Federal Fire Management Assistance Grant will help our state take all necessary actions to protect Coloradans and communities,” Polis said in a statement. “Protecting lives, property, and businesses is our top priority.” READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Three Wildland Firefighters Die In Burnover During Western Colorado Fire Fight
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CBS Colorado, Approved, State

Three Wildland Firefighters Die In Burnover During Western Colorado Fire Fight

By: Logan Smith, Christa Swanson | CBS Colorado Three wildland firefighters died Saturday during their response to a pair of Colorado wildfires, federal agencies announced early Sunday morning.  Two other firefighters were injured and flown out by helicopters to area hospitals. "Our immediate focus is on supporting their families, friends, and fellow crewmates during this incredibly difficult time," the U.S. Wildland Fire Service stated in a 12:30 a.m. social media post.  The five fighters were caught in a "burnover," according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Interior. A burnover occurs when firefighters are overtaken or trapped by a wildfire and take cover under protective shelters carried in their packs. Firefighters are trained to use...
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Colorado Faces Elevated Wildfire Risk As Conditions Outpace Historic Fire Seasons
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The Gazette, Approved, State

Colorado Faces Elevated Wildfire Risk As Conditions Outpace Historic Fire Seasons

By Nick Smith | The Gazette Colorado’s blistering, dry and breezy conditions have fire officials on edge as the state braces for a wildfire season forecast to be worse than during the Waldo Canyon fire in 2012. Officials warn that wildfires are becoming more frequent, more destructive and larger. “We are not looking good for fire this year,” Colorado Springs Fire Marshal Kris Cooper told the city council on Monday. “It’s got the fire department on pins and needles.” According to Tracy LeClair, a spokesperson for The Wildland Fire Management Section of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, conditions are a “magnitude worse” than those ahead of major historic wildfires in the state, such as the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fire...
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Yuma County Fires Race Across Plains Burning Tens Of Thousands Of Acres During 80 MPH Gusts
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

Yuma County Fires Race Across Plains Burning Tens Of Thousands Of Acres During 80 MPH Gusts

By Stephanie Butzer, Robert Garrison | Denver7 Officials told us they believe these fires were caused by downed power lines. Denver7 is working to learn more and will have a crew reporting through the morning. YUMA COUNTY, Colo. — Emergency personnel have contained all but one wildfire in Yuma County overnight after multiple fires broke out Wednesday evening as strong wind gusts pummeled the state. The only fire that was currently active as of 2:30 a.m. Thursday was in a rural area of the county south of Eckley near the Heartstrong neighborhood. It had burned an estimated 40,000 acres as of then, according to Jake Rockwell, emergency manager for Yuma County Office of Emergency Management. By that point, the other fires had been contained. As of 7:40 a.m., the Color...
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Wildfire Relief Effort Scales Up Across Western Colorado
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kdvr.com, Approved, Local

Wildfire Relief Effort Scales Up Across Western Colorado

By Heather Willard | KDVR Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — Hundreds of thousands of acres in Colorado have been scorched from wildland fires raging on the Western Slope, and officials are sharing how you could help. The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shared resources on social media on Wednesday, as did the city of Craig on Tuesday. “Thank you to all who have offered resources and support- we are profoundly grateful,” the Colorado agency said on X. “You can help those impacted by the Lee and Elk wildfires by donating to the Yampa Valley Disaster Recovery Fund; tax-deductible donations are being accepted for disaster relief and recovery efforts.” You can donate here to the Yampa Valley Disaster Recovery Fund. You can also sign up to volunteer or&...
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As Texas reels from deadly floods, Colorado rescue teams ready to deploy
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kdvr.com, Approved, National

As Texas reels from deadly floods, Colorado rescue teams ready to deploy

By Jacob Factor | Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — A federal search and rescue task force made up of firefighters from Colorado agencies is preparing for potential deployment to Texas to assist in response efforts following catastrophic Fourth of July holiday weekend flooding that has claimed nearly 90 lives. Colorado Task Force 1 is supported by 23 different fire agencies across Colorado, including Denver and Colorado Springs fire departments and North, West and South Metro fire rescues, said in a Facebook post Monday morning its members had been advised of potential deployment to Texas. Team members, if activated, would work in water rescue and recovery. The devastating floods started early Fourth of July morning, and rescue efforts have been ongoing across several parts ...
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