Amidst the smoldering landscapes of Delta, Mesa, and Montrose Counties, the echoes of a verbal disaster declaration have finally been etched into permanence. Governor Polis, taking measures of the widespread devastation brought by severe weather and subsequent wildfires, signed an Executive Order on July 13 to affirm the urgent need for aid and support in the face of a natural crisis, according to the Colorado Governor's Office.
This move follows a chain reaction set in motion on the western slope of Colorado, where over twenty wildfires, all sparked by the indiscriminate bolt of lightning, have raged uncontrolled. Among these, the South Rim Fire in Montrose County, the Turner Gulch Fire in Mesa County, and the Deer Creek Fire in Montrose County have been highlighted by the Governor's Office as particularly destructive blazes necessitating immediate attention.
With this formalization, Governor Polis seeks to streamline the response to these fires by activating the State Emergency Operations Plan. Additionally, by directing State agencies to secure federal funding and by bolstering the financial resources for the firefighting efforts, this Executive Order is a timely scaffold for Colorado's struggle against the caprices of nature.
