On Sept. 4, it was announced that President Donald Trump approved public assistance for Colorado’s Aug. 23 major disaster declaration request for the Gold Mountain and Aspen Acres fires.
A major disaster declaration is made by the president in response to a request by the governor of the state impacted by the disaster and is designed to provide federal assistance in responding to a natural event, such as a wildfire, earthquake or flood, that causes damage assessed to be beyond the capacity of local and state government to address.
The public assistance program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and provides supplemental grants to state, tribal and local governments to support recovery from natural disasters.
The program can be activated as part of a major disaster declaration, alongside a variety of other aid programs, but does not have to be.
The request for a major disaster declaration for the Gold Mountain and Aspen Acres fires was supported by Colorado’s entire congressional delegation, who highlighted the more than $18 million in damages to public infrastructure caused by the two fires that FEMA validated.
“Successful recovery is essential to restoring the counties’ economies, which depend on clean drinking water, tourism, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and hunting and fishing,” the lawmakers wrote to Trump in a letter supporting Gov. Jared Polis’ request. “Without additional support, residents could face potentially insurmountable barriers to rebuilding homes and businesses, increased drinking water and electric utility costs, and the loss of important habitat and grazing lands. In addition, these communities face ongoing hazards from the post-fire burn scars, including debris, burned trees, and threats to water quality and drinking water infrastructure.”
The Trump administration previously denied several major disaster declaration requests in Colorado in 2025, including requests for assistance with damage from the Lee Fire near Meeker, the Elk Fire in northern Hinsdale County and fall flooding that impacted the San Juan River through Pagosa Springs and Vallecito Creek north of Durango and Bayfield, among other areas.
Colorado is also seeking assistance from FEMA’s individual assistance program through the disaster declaration, although this request is still under review.
“Coloradans hit by the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires have shown incredible strength, but recovering from big disasters requires federal help,” Polis said on Sept. 4. “Today’s approval of public assistance will help our communities clear debris and repair damage to public infrastructure. Removing debris from homes and buildings destroyed is the most important step to begin rebuilding and now that work can occur promptly and at no cost to homeowners just as it did after the Marshall Fire.
“I thank the president for approving Colorado’s public assistance request to provide help for our communities to recover and rebuild, and FEMA for working with the state as we submitted our application. We appreciate the ongoing consideration of Colorado’s individual assistance request, and hope that will also be approved soon.
“I also thank our entire bipartisan congressional delegation, local leaders, elected officials, first responders, utility providers, business owners, nonprofit organizations, homeowners and disaster survivors who supported this request. Colorado made a strong bipartisan case for this declaration, and I am deeply appreciative of everyone who has worked together on behalf of these affected communities to help Coloradans in our time of need.”
“Following an outpouring of local support for disaster relief, I am glad to see the approval of the state’s request for a major disaster declaration and public assistance,” said Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet. “This funding will help Ouray, Dolores, Pueblo, and Custer counties rebuild after wildfires burned more than 140,000 acres in their counties this summer, destroying critical infrastructure, water supplies, and hundreds of homes and structures.
“The president must now approve the governor’s request for individual assistance and hazard mitigation funding, as well as the overdue federal assistance for the Lee and Elk Fires and extreme flooding in Southwest Colorado that occurred last year.”
josh@pagosasun.com
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