Larimer County Declares Disaster Emergency, Enacts Fire Bans

Today, Larimer County issued a formal disaster emergency due to the Alexander Mountain Fire.

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The goal in declaring a formal disaster emergency is to be able to get funding at both a state and federal level for relief.

Jared Polis and his office declared verbal declarations of disaster emergency for the Currant Creek, Alexander Mountain, and Stone Mountain fires. 

When it comes to the federal level, Larimer County is trying to get assistance from FEMA to get a Fire Management Assistance Grant. It would provide even more money to help fight the fire.

By giving out the declaration today, they are completing the first step in getting federal funding to fight the Alexander Mountain fire.

At the moment, Larimer County has had to spend over $2 million alone on using planes for firefighting purposes.

Fire Restrictions Have Been Enacted Due to the Alexander Mountain Fire

In Sheriff John Feyen’s words, the fire restrictions are significant.

You are only allowed to burn the fireplace in your home and on gas-powered grill equipment in your backyard or on a campsite.

The use of combustible fires, such as charcoal or wood burning fires, are completely banned through August 31st, with an option to continue it after that date. 

He said the situation in Northern Colorado warrants such strict fire bans.

Alexander Mountain Fire Update

According to a special meeting in the Commissioners Conference Room, the fire has grown to almost 7,000 acres. 

To Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen’s knowledge, there has been no property loss and no lives have been lost either.

Larimer County is at a 5 Preparedness Level, which means that the county’s resources are spread very thin trying to fight this fire. This is also true at a national level as well.

Feyen said this has a 50% chance to be a five week event, with about a 10% chance this will take us into October and November.