Press Releases

LAKEWOOD —Last night, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen, U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and Representative Joe Neguse called on the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) to provide additional support for the State of Colorado as it continues to battle several ongoing wildfires, including the Quarry Fire in Jefferson County, that threaten homes and communities across the Front Range. In a letter to Chief Mark Hilton, Rep. Pettersen and Colorado lawmakers urged the NIFC to meet Colorado’s request for additional boots on the ground, requesting hand crews that are available as soon as possible, in addition to any available engines, incident management teams, and aviation support. 

Hand crews are made up of highly skilled wildland firefighters that fight at the frontline of fires, creating firelines and defensible spaces, conducting mop-up operations, improving efficiency, and relieving firefighters and medic engines. 

“We understand the pressures facing our wildland firefighting workforce, as wildfires rage all across the western United States and continue to threaten many of our communities,” wrote the lawmakers. “Existing resources are stretched thin to meet those demands. We strongly support the State of Colorado’s request for additional resources immediately, and over the coming weeks and months, as we continue to face extreme heat and drought conditions that may exacerbate existing fires and increase the risk of additional wildfires. Time is of the essence to save lives and homes,” 

Find the full letter to NFIC Chief Mark Hilton HERE and below. 

The NIFC works to foster cooperation and collaboration between national and state wildland fire entities to ensure wildland fire personnel and other emergency services employees across the nation receive the support and information they need to do their job in a safe, effective, and efficient manner. 

July 31, 2024

 Dear Chief Hilton,

Given the increased wildfire risk we are facing across our State, we write to request your strong support for the State of Colorado as it continues to battle several ongoing wildfires that threaten homes and communities. Specifically, we urge you to work with the State of Colorado to meet requests for available hand crews needed as soon as possible, in addition to any available engines, incident management teams, and aviation support.

The Alexander Mountain Fire in Larimer County, the Stone Canyon and Lake Shore Fires in Boulder County, and the Quarry Fire in Jefferson County have all begun within the last 48 hours. This has prompted the evacuation of thousands, claiming the life of one of our community members, burning more than a combined 9,000 acres, and destroying at least five structures.

The State of Colorado has activated all available resources to address these wildfires, including new aerial resources, and are actively coordinating with the National Interagency Fire Center and neighboring states. With existing wildfires and the continued high wildfire risk, the State expects to need additional resources in the coming days and weeks.

We understand the pressures facing our wildland firefighting workforce, as wildfires rage all across the western United States and continue to threaten many of our communities. Existing resources are stretched thin to meet those demands. We strongly support the State of Colorado’s request for additional resources immediately, and over the coming weeks and months, as we continue to face extreme heat and drought conditions that may exacerbate existing fires and increase the risk of additional wildfires. Time is of the essence to save lives and homes.

We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.