Source: BoulderOSteens via YouTube

STATE BILL COLORADO

Gov. Bill Ritter on Tuesday issued an emergency disaster declaration for the Fourmile Fire in Boulder County, authorizing $5 million in state aid to pay firefighting costs and directing the state to seek additional funds from the federal government if necessary.

The governor signed the executive order and declared a state of emergency after touring the fire area this afternoon. The fire has now burned more than 7,100 acres, the governor’s office said. It has destroyed dozens of structures, threatened 500 others and forced the evacuation of 1,000 homes and 3,500 residents.

“This is an extremely volatile and dangerous fire,” Ritter said in a statement. “It’s very important for homeowners who have been evacuated to be patient as firefighters work to get the blaze under control. On behalf of the people of Colorado, I want to commend the emergency crews, including those who have lost their own homes, for doing all they can on the fire lines to protect life and property. While it is encouraging that the evacuations have been successful and there have been no serious physical injuries, there will be many struggles ahead as we begin to assess property damage and losses. My thoughts and prayers go out to all residents harmed by this devastating fire.”

Jeff Jahnke, state forester and director of the Colorado State Forest Service, said, “The Fourmile fire is a harsh reminder about the importance of being prepared for wildland fire, particularly for those who live, work and recreate in the wildland-urban interface.”

The full text of the Governor’s order is below.

D 2010-012

EXECUTIVE ORDER

Declaring a Disaster Emergency Due to Fourmile Fire in Boulder County

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado and, in particular, pursuant to relevant portions of the Colorado Disaster Emergency Act of 1992, C.R.S. § 24-32-2100, et seq., I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order declaring a state of disaster emergency due to the wildfire in Boulder County, Colorado.

I. Background and Purpose

On Monday, September 6, 2010, a wildfire (“Fourmile Fire”) broke out in Fourmile Canyon, approximately 12 miles northwest of Boulder, Colorado. As of the morning of September 7th, the fire has forced the evacuation of approximately 1,000 homes and 3,500 residents. Multiple homes have been destroyed, and more than 500 structures are currently threatened. In addition, gusty winds and dry weather threaten to exacerbate the fire. Because of the fire’s proximity to state and federal lands, the city of Boulder, and residences in Fourmile Canyon, an aggressive response is essential. Approximately thirty agencies, including the Colorado State Forest Service, the U.S. Forest Service and local emergency teams, have responded to the wildfire by deploying a variety of resources, including one hundred firefighters, thirty-five engines, seven air tankers and three helicopters.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs. FEMA’s authorization makes federal funding available to reimburse seventy-five percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for responding to and controlling designated fires.

As Governor, I am responsible for meeting the dangers to the state and people presented by disasters. The Colorado Disaster Emergency Act of 1992, defines a disaster as “the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damages, injury or loss of life or property resulting from any natural cause or cause of human origin, including but not limited to . . . fire.” C.R.S. § 24-32-2103(1.5). The Fourmile Fire’s proximity to state and federal lands, the city of Boulder, and residences in Fourmile Canyon posed an imminent danger to life and property and, therefore, constituted a disaster for the purposes of the Act.

II. Declaration and Directives

A. I hereby declare that Fourmile Fire constitutes a disaster emergency for purposes of C.R.S. § 24-32-2103.

B. The State Emergency Operations Plan (“Plan”) is hereby activated. All State departments and agencies shall take whatever actions may be required and requested by the Director of the Division of Emergency Management or the Colorado State Forest Service, including provision of appropriate staff and equipment as necessary.

C. I order the encumbrance of $5,000,000 from the Disaster Emergency Fund to pay for the response effort related to this disaster. These funds shall be used to pay for resources to fight the Fourmile Fire. The Colorado State Forester is hereby authorized and directed to allocate the funding to the appropriate resources. These funds shall remain available for this purpose for one year from the date of this Executive Order.

D. The Director of the Colorado Division of Emergency Management and the Colorado State Forest Service are authorized and directed to coordinate application to the federal government for funds available for reimbursement and to coordinate application for any other funds available related to this disaster emergency.

III. Duration

This Executive Order shall expire thirty days from its date of signature unless extended further by Executive Order, except that the funds described in paragraph II(C) above shall remain available for the described purposes for one year from the date of this Executive Order.

Given under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado this seventh day of September, 2010.

Bill Ritter, Jr.

Governor

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

STATE BILL COLORADO

Gov. Bill Ritter announced that Colorado Homeland Security Director Mason Whitney is retiring effective Aug. 31 and will be replaced by former Denver Fire Chief Larry Trujillo.

Trujillo spent 25 years rising through the ranks of the Denver Fire Department. He served as chief from 2003 until his retirement in 2007. He was a senior safety adviser to the Democratic National Convention in 2008.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

Gov. Bill Ritter lead a delegation of Colorado leaders to Israel today on an economic-development mission to establish long-term business, investment and research partnerships in innovative fields such as energy, clean-tech and water, GovMonitor reports.

Ritter, administration officials and more than a dozen other Coloradans will be in Israel through Sunday. They will sign several Colorado-Israel agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to promote an exchange of knowledge, ideas and best business practices.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

For the past 40 years, the state of Colorado has been leasing the land where Transportation Technology Center Inc. operates its test track east of Pueblo — from itself, The Pueblo Chieftain reports. A budget line-item in the 2010-11 Long Bill and corresponding memorandum show that one state department — the Colorado Land Board — leases the 33,493 acre test-track site to another, the Department of Personnel and Administration, at an annual cost of $120,000 to the state general fund. In turn, the state subleases the land to the Federal Railroad Commission at no charge.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

The attorney general’s office has asked that a whistle-blower complaint filed by state real estate division director Erin Toll be dismissed, and information obtained Tuesday by The Denver Post called into question a key element of the embattled regulator’s complaint.

In a filing with the State Personnel Board last week, Toll cast her involuntary, paid leave and possible termination as punishment for publicly revealing that state Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, and his employer, American Home Funding, were under investigation by her office. She also chastised her boss, Department of Regulatory Agencies director Barbara Kelley, for quashing the investigation into Harvey’s firm.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

A panel of lawmakers this morning gave state auditors the go-ahead to review whether state agencies use paid administrative leave properly and in a cost effective way, The Denver Post reports.

The probe stems from a February report by Channel 7 that the state spent $1 million over three years paying employees to stay home from work.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

Pssst! Want to buy a Colorado interstate highway tunnel or a college football skybox with club seating? Or how about the National Guard Armory in Watkins, only $11 million?

The Associated Press says these are just a few of the $9.5 billion in assets the state of Colorado has listed for possible sale in the event of a statewide emergency, like the Hayman fire in 2002 that destroyed 600 buildings, including 133 homes, as it burned trees and vegetation on about 215 square miles in the Colorado Rockies.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

House Bill 1211 knocks the late fines back to $10 for trailers, The Durango Herald reports. HB 1212 tells the Department of Revenue to make exceptions for people who register late because of medical emergencies, weather, computer failures or other factors beyond their control.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

Many Colorado government offices will be closed today as thousands of state employees take another furlough day ordered by Gov. Bill Ritter to help save money, The Denver Post reports.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

Editor’s Note: Listen to Gov. Ritter’s budget press conference here.

Gov. Bill Ritter said today he plans to fill a remaining $47.5 million hole in the state budget by ending some tax breaks sooner and withholding more in severance tax grants to communities affected by energy development, The Denver Post reports.

20100127_Ritter_Budget

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >