Colorado Governor Declares State of Emergency as Wildfire Threatens Northwest Region

Governor Jared Polis has officially declared a state of emergency in response to the escalating wildfire in northwest Colorado's Rio Blanco County. The Elk Creek fire, which has scorched approximately 100 acres as of Sunday morning on both private and public lands, prompted the declaration to facilitate resource mobilization and coordinated firefighting efforts. A specialized Type 3 incident management team has been deployed to oversee operations, focusing extensive resources on containment. Forecasters predict persistent fire risk throughout the week, with temperatures forecasted to reach into the high 80s and low 90s, coupled with minimal rainfall, increasing the challenge for firefighting teams.