This landscape should be covered with snow in December, but that’s not blowing snow, it’s dry ash from the Lee Fire burn scar southwest of Meeker. When the ash settles, it drifts like sand, further complicating recovery efforts and warning of additional flooding and debris flows in the future. KATHLEEN KELLEY[Read More…]
Tag: Elk Fire
SBA offers relief to small businesses and private nonprofits affected by fires, flooding
PRESS RELEASE RBC | The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced low interest federal disaster loans are now available to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Colorado who sustained economic losses caused by the Lee and Elk Fires, mudslides and debris flows occurring Aug. 2-29. The SBA issued[Read More…]
‘A community that shows up’: Ashes to Action highlights recovery, resilience after Lee and Elk Fires, updates on damages incurred
MEEKER | Last Saturday’s Ashes to Action gathering brought nearly 90 residents together for an update on post-fire recovery efforts from multiple agencies. Rio Blanco County Commissioner Doug Overton opened the meeting with a brief account of the unified response to the Lee and Elk fires. “We are a county[Read More…]
‘Burned, not broken’: Smoking River Brewery’s Oktoberfest takes a new direction post-fire
MEEKER | The annual Oktoberfest celebration at Smoking River Brewery has become a community tradition in a few short years. The Lee and Elk fires nearly squelched it. “We were going to cancel this year,” said co-owner Kristofer Borchard, noting that after the fire it didn’t seem right to have[Read More…]
For the Rafellos, the Lee Fire was one more struggle that has left them in need of help
RBC | Everyone experienced the Elk and Lee fires from their own perspective. For some it meant the inconvenience and discomfort of having to evacuate, for others it brought damage and destruction to property and livelihood. The impacts continue to ripple through the community, and will likely be felt for[Read More…]
Funding request for fire recovery heads to D.C.
RBC | Gov. Jared Polis has formally requested a federal disaster declaration for two wildfires that burned over 150,000 acres in Rio Blanco County this summer. The Lee and Elk fires grew rapidly and forced evacuations in and around the town of Meeker after they were started by lightning on[Read More…]
Sen. Roberts, Rep. Lukens tour fire/flood impacts
State Senator Dylan Roberts and District 26 Representative Meghan Lukens toured the Elk and Lee burns on Monday, Sept. 22 to view fire and flood impacts to Rio Blanco County. County officials briefed them on efforts to document fire and flood impacts to support requests for assistance. (Left to right)[Read More…]
Open, drop-in community meeting Thursday for landowners affected by the Lee and Elk Fires
MEEKER | We understand there are many challenges following the recent fires, and we want to ensure landowners have support and clear information moving forward. Join us for an open, drop-in, community meeting where staff from the BLM, Rio Blanco County, and the Conservation Districts will be on hand to[Read More…]
Declaring disaster: Emergency resolutions open doors to aid
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[Read More…]
Fire suppression repair efforts underway on Elk, Lee fires
MEEKER | Last week, reporters from the Herald Times had the opportunity to observe suppression repair efforts on both the Lee Fire and the Elk Fire, led by Northern Rockies Team 1, offering a firsthand look at the extensive work required after a wildfire is contained. Lee Fire: Repairing Firefighting[Read More…]
Elk Fire 100% contained, Lee Fire at 68% – New team took command Monday
MEEKER | With the Elk Fire 100% contained, progress continues on the south side of the Lee Fire, with 68% containment as of press time Wednesday. On Monday the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 handed off command of the incident to the Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management[Read More…]
FORTITUDE UNDER FIRE – Elk and Lee fires consume 130,000 acres of Rio Blanco County; now 5th largest wildfire in Colorado history
MEEKER | The Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 hosted a media briefing and tour Tuesday to provide updates on the Elk and Lee fires. Tyler Nathe, operations section chief for the team, said the Elk Fire currently covers 14,549 acres with 30% containment (that number has since[Read More…]