Colorado Declares Disaster Emergency as 24 Wildfires Burn Across State

Colorado has declared a statewide disaster emergency as 24 uncontained wildfires burn across the state, including one of the largest in its history.

Governor Jared Polis signed the executive order on August 14, citing extreme fire risk and ongoing weather conditions that have fueled fast-spreading blazes. He emphasized that the declaration is intended to strengthen early fire detection, improve suppression efforts, and ensure the state has the resources needed to support local firefighting operations.

The declaration does not focus on a single wildfire but addresses the broader threat across Colorado. One of the most severe incidents, the Lee Fire, has already scorched more than 123,000 acres, making it the fifth-largest wildfire in state history by acreage. As of August 14, the fire was only 3% contained and has triggered evacuations in western Colorado, including at a state prison.

Under the order, the Colorado National Guard is authorized for wildfire response if requested by state public safety officials. While no Guard units have yet been deployed, the order paves the way for their mobilization.

According to the governor’s office, nearly 2,400 personnel are currently assigned to battle nine large wildfires in the state, which together have burned over 185,000 acres. In total, 24 separate fires are actively burning without containment.