From KUNC This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. It first appeared at cpr.org. RBC | FEMA has denied Colorado’s appeal for a major disaster declaration for two natural disasters that occurred last year. It means federal dollars will not be available to help in[Read More…]
Tag: Lee Fire
Seeds of recovery planted in Lee Fire burn area
MEEKER | Volunteers from across the community gathered Feb. 27 to help restore hundreds of acres of land burned by last year’s Lee Fire, spreading thousands of native seeds across the Piceance Basin in an effort to stabilize soils and rebuild wildlife habitat. About 30 volunteers participated in the effort,[Read More…]
BLM, partners host seeding event this Friday to restore land damaged by 2025 Lee Fire – volunteers welcome
MEEKER | The Bureau of Land Management’s White River Field Office and partners will host a volunteer event scheduled 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 27 to help restore portions of the landscape damaged by the 2025 Lee Fire. Volunteers will help spread more than 4,000 pounds of seed across 525 acres[Read More…]
Colorado Parks and Wildlife coordinating reseeding work to restore wildlife habitat, protect watersheds after 2025 fires
PRESS RELEASE RBC | After one of Colorado’s most significant wildfire seasons in 2025, Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) local area staff and Habitat Conservation Team are helping coordinate large-scale efforts to restore wildlife habitat and protect watersheds across Western Colorado. Beginning in spring 2025, persistent drought conditions contributed to[Read More…]
‘Disappointed’: Officials respond to denial of FEMA fire recovery funding
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…]
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…]
Looking at the land through the lens of fire and flood
MEEKER | Water has always been a priority in the Josephine Basin — the broad valley southwest of Meeker named for the draw where Josephine Meeker and the women of the White River settlement were held captive after the 1879 uprising. The basin depends on rainfall and spring runoff, both[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…]
