President Will Travel to Colorado to Review Wildfire Damage and Thank Firefighters
Today, President Obama called Colorado Governor
John Hickenlooper as well as Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach to receive an
update on damaging fires that are impacting a number of communities across the
state, including the devastating Waldo Canyon fire that is affecting families,
homes and businesses in Colorado Springs, CO.
The President expressed his
concern about the extent of damage to homes in the Colorado Springs area, and
informed both the Governor and the Mayor that he plans to travel to the area
Friday to view the damage and thank the responders bravely battling the fire.
The President reiterated his administration’s
focus, through the US Forest Service as well as the Department of Interior and
FEMA, on continuing to bring all resources to bear to assist local responders
in Colorado and a number of Western States currently being impacted by fires.
Seventeen air tankers have cycled in and out of firefighting action over the
last 48 hours across the western states.
More than 8,400 personnel, 578 fire
engines and 79 helicopters are operating on wildfires around the U.S., with
more than half of active federal wildfire-fighting resources are currently
staged in Colorado.
Federal support is also being provided to local
officials battling fires in Alaska, Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, New
Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
The President made clear that he has directed
his team to remain focused on the fires, and he asked the Governor and the Mayor to
identify any additional resources that could be provided and informed both that
his thoughts and prayers are with responders and families impacted by these and
other fires burning across the western United States.
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