Colorado: Governor Polis Announces FEMA Authorized Federal Fire Management Assistance Grant for Gold Mountain Fire in Ouray County

DENVER ~ Denver, CO - In a press conference today, Governor Jared Polis announced that Colorado has been granted a FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Gold Mountain Fire in Ouray County. The Governor had previously declared a verbal disaster emergency for the fire on June 28th.

At the time of the request, the Gold Mountain Fire had already burned over 8,200 acres and was threatening 266 homes. The situation has since escalated, with the fire now burning at nearly 15,000 acres and forcing over 400 people to evacuate. Despite efforts from local resources and additional support from 167 personnel, 2 helicopters, and 7 engines as of Tuesday, the fire remains at 0% containment.

Governor Polis expressed his gratitude for the brave firefighters who are risking their lives to protect communities and homes. He emphasized that their safety is of utmost importance and that the state will do everything in its power to keep Coloradans safe from these fires.

The authorization from FEMA means that Colorado will receive funding to cover 75% of eligible firefighting costs for managing, mitigating, and controlling designated fires. However, this assistance does not extend to individual homeowners or businesses affected by the fire.

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Since the start of the Gold Mountain Fire, both the U.S. Forest Service and the State have deployed numerous resources including engines and personnel from various agencies. A complex incident management team has also been assigned to oversee operations.

Governor Polis' verbal declaration on June 28th activated the State Emergency Operations Plan and directed the Department of Public Safety's Divisions of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) to take charge of all response, recovery, and mitigation efforts for the Gold Mountain Fire. This includes providing support through state and interagency engines and handcrews, aviation resources, incident management personnel, as well as administrative and financial oversight.

In addition, DFPC is also assisting Ouray County and the incident with intelligence products such as imaging, mapping, and fire behavior modeling. DHSEM is directly supporting the Ouray County Emergency Manager and the emergency operations center with on-site area field managers.

The Governor's announcement serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat wildfires in Colorado and the importance of preparedness and cooperation in times of crisis.

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