Overview
- Gov. Jared Polis formally asked President Trump and FEMA on Sunday, Aug. 23, for a Major Disaster Declaration covering the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires and sought Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation grants.
- State officials say the two fires burned more than 140,000 acres, destroyed 324 homes, and forced about 11,600 residents to evacuate, with the Aspen Acres fire ranked as Colorado's seventh-largest and the worst for home losses since the Marshall Fire.
- Heavy rain over recent weeks produced repeated flash floods and debris flows on burn scars, including a deadly Aug. 16 flood on the Aspen Acres burn scar, and caused repeated road closures and damage to water and power systems.
- State and federal damage teams have identified roughly $17.2 million in eligible public-assistance damages for Aspen Acres and $1.4 million for Gold Mountain, while local leaders warn total economic losses may be far higher and local resources are nearing exhaustion.
- The federal decision is pending, Colorado's congressional delegation has urged quick approval, and state officials say an approved declaration would open direct household aid, funding for public repairs and private-property debris removal, and grants for long-term risk reduction.