RBC | On Aug. 3, the Rio Blanco County Commissioners passed a resolution declaring a local disaster emergency for the Elk Fire southeast of Meeker. Later that day, Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency for the fire. On Aug. 5, Polis expanded the order to include the Lee Fire and signed an executive order authorizing the Colorado National Guard to help with suppression.
“The purpose of declaring a disaster is just to make…