Last night, Governor Jared Polis took decisive action in response to the growing inferno that has come to be known as the Crosho Fire, engulfing parts of Rio Blanco and Routt Counties. He verbally declared a disaster emergency, signaling a heightened level of urgency and a green light for more robust support. Stating his plans to join the front lines, Polis is set to visit the Turner Gulch Command Center on Thursday to directly oversee the firefighting efforts.
The fire, which ignited on Monday, has now scorched an estimated 1,700 acres, according to the Colorado Governor's Office. Approximately 600 of those devastated acres spread across state and private lands, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the blaze. More alarming, Routt County issued evacuation notices as the fire made its relentless advancement west of Yampa and west of Highway 131, jeopardizing roughly 30 homes. The rural fabric of Colorado stands to quickly unravel unless emergency measures effectively mitigate the spread.
In a display of coordinated action, the Governor's disaster declaration brought the State Emergency Operations and Resource Mobilization Plans into full swing. This strategic move authorizes the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to act as the conductor, orchestrating the state response from the heart of the State Emergency Operations Center. Additionally, specialist field operations staff are now mobilizing to extend their expertise to local county emergency managers, all in pursuit of a tailored and nimble approach to consequence management in these affected counties.
