FRUITA, CO – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, alongside state leaders, visited Mesa County where he met with first responders and emergency management staff and received an update on the Snyder fire that has surpassed 28,000 acres, claimed the lives of three firefighters, and injured two others. The fire comes as Colorado and other western states are experiencing a historic megadrought and are in the midst of preparing for what is already a disastrous fire season.
“Our hearts are with the families of those lost, with those who were injured, and with everyone still on the front lines,” said Hickenlooper. “Colorado is facing another difficult wildfire season and our firefighters are doing everything they can to protect our communities. It’s time for every level of government to match their service with solutions that make everyone safer.”
Watch Hickenlooper’s video of his visit to the first responders of the Snyder Fire
Hickenlooper has introduced legislation to rehire the thousands of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) employees recklessly fired by the Trump administration, has consistently pushed the administration to address severe understaffing, and introduced legislation allowing Congress to override President Trump’s callous political decision to withhold federal disaster aid and provide relief for Coloradans impacted by last year’s Lee and Elk fires.
The Snyder fire was ignited by a lightning strike in eastern Utah last Friday night and quickly spread over the Colorado-Utah border into the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. The fire has now surpassed over 28,000 acres and has not been contained. There are several additional active fires burning across Colorado.
Colorado is experiencing a historic 1,200-year megadrought, bringing snowpack levels to the lowest in recorded history. At the same time, the Trump administration has fired thousands of experienced USFS firefighters and is politicizing federal disaster aid and relief for impacted communities.
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