FEMA disaster funding approved for Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo County
Scott Harrison
COLORADO CITY, Colo. (KRDO) — In a wildfire that grew from two acres to 23,000 in one day, firefighters battling the Aspen Acres Fire will take any help they can get.
And they got more of it on Monday evening.
That’s when FEMA — the Federal Emergency Management Agency — approved federal funding for 75% of firefighting costs.
The funding will cover the management, mitigation, and control of the fire.
However, FEMA funds don’t provide assistance to individual home or business owners, nor do they cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.
It’s unclear how many homes, structures, or other property may have been damaged or destroyed by the fire.
FEMA’s authorization of disaster funds may come as a surprise to many state leaders after President Trump — in what was widely considered a political move — denied disaster funding for two wildfires earlier this year.
There was another positive sign on Tuesday, as two planes began dropping flame retardant on the fire; however, crews had only a few hours before winds intensified again.
Although winds were considerably calmer on Tuesday, the fire continued to spread quickly — burning between Colorado City and north of Beulah, and creating two large plumes.
Meanwhile, in Colorado City, smoke cleared considerably, and people there hoped the worst was over.
“I’m packed and ready to go,” said Sandra Yant, a resident. “Oh, I was scared. I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know what to do. Because I’ve never been this close to anything like this before.”
Stan Woods, who was visiting Colorado City, expressed sympathy for fire evacuees.
“God bless ’em,” he said. “Hopefully, their homes are not affected, and everything turns out great for ’em. It’s a terrible thing. It’s Colorado wildfires.”