WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, along with Colorado U.S. Representatives Jeff Hurd, Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank, Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Gabe Evans, Joe Neguse, and Brittany Pettersen, sent a letter to President Donald Trump supporting Governor Jared Polis’ request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration and Public Assistance for Rio Blanco County following the devastating Lee and Elk wildfires earlier this year.
“Colorado communities in Rio Blanco County have suffered significant losses as a result of severe wildland fire…” wrote the Colorado lawmakers. “Successful recovery is essential to restoring the County’s economy, which depends on oil and gas, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and hunting and fishing. Without additional support, residents could face increased electricity costs, oil and gas production could slow, and important habitat and grazing lands could be lost.“
A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration allows for additional loans, insurance relief, and other critical assistance to help communities rebuild their lives.
Hickenlooper has long led efforts to tackle Colorado’s wildfire crisis. He helped negotiate and introduce the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, which would help reduce wildfire risk for Colorado communities and speed up mitigation projects while maintaining environmental safeguards and encouraging local involvement. Hickenlooper has also helped secure billions in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to support wildfire risk reduction and new firefighting equipment. He also fought the Trump admin’s illegal mass firings of federal employees that support wildfire resilience on our public lands and introduced legislation to restore those fired public servants. Recently, he urged the U.S. Forest Service to reinstate the Women in Wildfire Bootcamps program, a proven initiative that expands recruitment and training opportunities at a time of critical firefighter shortages.
The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
Dear Mr. President:
We strongly support Governor Jared Polis’s request on September 26, 2025 for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration and Public Assistance for Rio Blanco County, Colorado, in response to the devastating Lee and Elk wildfires that burned across the state in 2025. As part of this request, Governor Polis has also requested the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program for the affected county.
Colorado communities in Rio Blanco County have suffered significant losses as a result of severe wildland fire, including significant debris and mud flows that occurred from August 2nd through August 29, 2025. Combined, the Lee Fire (approximately 138,000 acres) and the Elk Fire (approximately 15,000 acres) – and the associated debris flows and mud slides – destroyed homes, buildings, transportation infrastructure, thousands of acres of rangeland used for livestock production, and caused extensive damage to oil and gas and rural electric transmission infrastructure.
Governor Polis has requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the period from August 2 through August 29, 2025. Rio Blanco County has suffered damages severe enough to qualify for the Public Assistance Program. Successful recovery is essential to restoring the County’s economy, which depends on oil and gas, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and hunting and fishing. Without additional support, residents could face increased electricity costs, oil and gas production could slow, and important habitat and grazing lands could be lost. In addition, residents face ongoing hazards from the fire, including debris, burned trees, and threats to water quality and drinking water infrastructure.
Data shows that eligible damages in Rio Blanco County total more than $27,491,000. In this rural county, these losses total approximately $4,000 per person.
As you are aware, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration unlocks a number of federal assistance programs and allows local governments, homeowners, and businesses to be eligible for loans, insurance relief, and other assistance. These communities urgently need this relief to rebuild. We thank you in advance for your expedited review and approval of the Governor’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration.
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