Colorado Rep. Neguse on wildfires: ‘Just utter devastation’

Colorado Rep. Joe Neguse (D) on Thursday shared his concern over the rapid spread of wildfires in his state, saying that the fires have caused “just utter devastation.” 

“It’s a devastating day for Colorado, certainly for Boulder County,” Neguse told local Colorado news station KDVR in a phone interview. “I’ve visited many of our neighbors and constituents at various evacuation centers in Boulder and Lafayette. To listen to their stories and hear about the loss — many folks who have lost their homes, all of their belongings — it’s utter devastation.”

He added that while he is working with the governor and other state officials to provide federal resources to those in need, he is grateful for the actions of first responders who are working in the midst of the fires.

“We’re doing everything we can to save lives. [I’m] just so grateful for the firefighters and the first responders who are sacrificing so much … across our community,” he said.

Two Colorado cities were ordered to evacuate due to wildfires. Hundreds of homes, a shopping center and a hotel were lost in the fires.

“This is the kind of fire we can’t fight head on,” Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said of the fires at the time. “We actually had deputy sheriffs and firefighters in areas that had to pull out because they just got overrun.”

Neguse also issued a statement on the wildfires on Thursday encouraging Coloradans in the area to evacuate.

“The fires spreading throughout Boulder County today are unprecedented. Community members should follow guidance from the Boulder Office of Emergency Management and move to quickly evacuate as directed. Everyone in the area should practice the utmost caution,” he said in the statement. “We are keeping our firefighters and all those impacted in our prayers as we grapple with these terrible and life-threatening fires.”