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Rio Blanco County commissioners praise responders, describe emergency operations amid large wildfires
Summary
At an Aug. 12 meeting the Rio Blanco County Board of County Commissioners acknowledged extensive firefighting and emergency operations, described evacuation and animal-relief efforts and authorized use of federal emergency funding while urging residents to follow closures.
The Rio Blanco County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 12 thanked firefighters, federal and state crews and local volunteers for their response to the Elk and Lee fires and described the county's emergency operations and evacuation support.
County leaders said an emergency was declared and, with support from the governor, federal funding became available to supplement state and local resources. The county's emergency manager convened an emergency operations center — the first in county history, officials said — and the fairgrounds were converted into an incident command post and livestock evacuation center that housed and fed more than 100 animals.
Commissioners and staff reported the Rio Blanco County Sheriff's Office coordinated road closures and evacuations, and county public health and human services worked with the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to provide food and shelter for evacuees. County staff and volunteers assisted with transportation of seniors and other vulnerable residents to safe accommodations.
Officials said hundreds of animals had been relocated with help from ranchers and Rangely Resources, and county personnel continued to coordinate with the sheriff's incident management team and livestock owners as the fires evolved. At the time of the meeting commissioners stated they were not aware of any human injuries resulting from the fires.
The board urged the public to call 911 before digging and to be prepared for potential evacuations. Commissioners also asked for patience and cooperation with emergency personnel and emphasized that fire operations and public-safety decisions rest with the incident command.
In a separate item the board read a letter of appreciation to local and federal crews and cited the role of the volunteer fire districts, the Rio Blanco County Sheriff's Office and the BLM White River Field Office among others.
The county reported more than 114,000 acres had burned and referenced a fire perimeter of roughly 170 miles. Commissioners said fire behavior and shifting winds over the next 48 hours would be critical. They also noted a new 250-acre start in eastern Rio Blanco was active and difficult to contain.
County staff briefed the board on logistics: road-and-bridge crews, dozers, graders and water trucks have been working extended shifts; the county has set up systems to document damage and track recovery needs; and the county is coordinating donations, shelter and food distribution through a centralized mechanism being developed with partners.
