Colorado: Governor Polis Memorializes Verbal Disaster Declaration for Snyder, Gold Mountain, Aspen Acres, and Willow Fires, Provides Updates on Fires

DENVER ~ Denver - In response to the ongoing wildfires in Colorado, Governor Jared Polis has issued an Executive Order today, extending the disaster declarations for 30 days for four major fires in the state. These include the Snyder Fire in Mesa County, the Gold Mountain Fire in Ouray County, the Willow Fire in Lake County, and the Aspen Acres Fire in Custer and Pueblo Counties.

The Executive Order allows for coordination between state and federal agencies in terms of fire suppression, response, consequence management, mitigation, and recovery efforts. It also suspends certain statutes and regulations from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to provide more flexibility for out-of-state emergency medical service providers to assist with fire rescue under the guidance of the Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS). Additionally, it authorizes the deployment of the Colorado National Guard in an unarmed capacity to aid with evacuations and mitigation efforts.

These verbal declarations were initially made by Governor Polis between June 27-29, 2026. The state has been facing extreme drought conditions due to a mild winter and record-low snowpack combined with record heat in March and an exceptionally dry spring. These conditions, along with a single weather event featuring hot and dry weather during the start of these fires, have significantly increased wildfire risk. The days leading up to these fires were marked by continuous Red Flag Warnings for extreme fire danger, with the National Weather Service office in Grand Junction even issuing a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" warning for parts of Western Colorado. As a result of these dangerous conditions, multiple wildfires have broken out across Colorado within a short period of time, requiring swift response and resources to protect communities.

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Governor Polis expressed his gratitude towards firefighters and first responders who are risking their lives to combat these fires and help affected communities safely return when possible. He also extended his condolences to those who have lost their lives while fighting these fires, including three firefighters and one helicopter pilot. The Governor emphasized the ongoing containment efforts and urged all Coloradans to avoid flames and recreate responsibly to prevent any new fires from starting.

Since June 27, Governor Polis has declared disaster emergencies in response to seven fires in the state and authorized the National Guard to assist with response efforts. Two of these fires, the Snyder Fire in Mesa County and the Sheep Head (formerly named Big Sheep) Fire in Huerfano County, have been handed back to local authorities based on containment. As of July 23, 2026, the Snyder Fire has burned 30,202 acres in Mesa County and is now 98% contained. The Gold Mountain Fire has burned 38,044 acres in Ouray County and is currently 24% contained. The Willow Fire has burned 7,196 acres in Lake County and is now 55% contained. The Aspen Acres Fire has burned 101,546 acres in Custer and Pueblo Counties and is currently at 61% containment.

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Governor Polis also announced that three of these fires - Gold Mountain Fire, Aspen Acres Fire, and Willow Fire - have been authorized for Fire Management Assistance Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This will allow the state to be reimbursed up to 75% for eligible firefighting costs. The Governor has personally visited the Snyder Fire Incident Command Post, Aspen Acres Fire Incident Command Post, and Pueblo Disaster Assistance Center to assess the situation on ground. He continues to closely monitor all fires in the state with his public safety team.

As Colorado continues to battle these devastating wildfires, Governor Polis urges everyone to stay vigilant and follow safety protocols to prevent any further damage or loss of life.

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