Gov. Jared Polis, Sen. Michael Bennet, Rep. Joe Neguse Join Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack On Tour Of Cameron Peak Fire Burn Area
LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- Gov. Jared Polis, Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse toured the Cameron Peak Fire burn area on Friday with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Work to restore the area from the fire damage is underway.
Crews are working on mitigating the damage to the water supply ahead of the monsoon season.
"I was grateful for the opportunity to join Governor Polis, Secretary Vilsack and our county officials today to tour the Cameron Peak Fire recovery sites in Larimer County. The Cameron Peak fire damaged many homes and small businesses and put tremendous strain on our firefighters and emergency management officials. It's crucial that we meet these historic wildfires with a proportionate response," said Neguse.
Colorado has so far allocated $13 million in the Colorado Recovery Plan toward wildfire mitigation work and wildfire recovery and $38.8 million toward suppression efforts including the purchase of a new fire-hawk helicopter, according to the governor's office.
"We have to protect our forests and invest in our watersheds —these are national assets. Secretary Vilsack understands that, and I'm glad he was here to see Colorado's efforts and the forest health and wildfire recovery partnerships that exist in our state," said Bennet.
Polis said everyone in Colorado can help out this wildfire season.
"Most of these fires were human-caused and we can be responsible and prevent the next great forest fire," said Polis.
The Cameron Peak Fire burned more than 200,000 acres and affected more than 1,000 stream miles of the watershed.
