This story by Sara Wilson appeared on Colorado Newsline on December 30, 2022.
One year after the Marshall Fire destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in Boulder County, Colorado leaders reflected on the impact and legacy of the most destructive wildfire in state history.
“As we look back on the one-year since the horrific Marshall Fire, we remember a painful day of destruction and loss for our community. It has been a long and hard recovery, and there is still more left to do, but each day I hope we get closer and closer to rebuilding some of what was lost,” Governor Jared Polis said in a statement. “I want to thank all those who worked to support the affected community over the last year. The incredible support from so many across the state made me proud to be a Coloradan.”
The Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses and killed two people on December 30, 2021 in Louisville and Superior, as dry conditions and high winds set the stage for a devastating natural disaster.
“Today is a solemn reminder of everything that the families in our community lost that day. But it is also a reminder of the incredible resiliency and kindness of the people of our community and our state, who have supported each other and our fellow citizens every step of the way during the past year as we’ve begun the long road of recovery,” U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat who represents Boulder, said in a statement. “Natural disasters have the power to reshape our communities for years to come, and as we pause to reflect on the progress made over the past year, we are reminded of the fact that many families and businesses are still very much in recovery. Today, and everyday, we recommit ourselves to redoubling our efforts to make the recovery process as quick and effective as possible.”
Neguse serves as the co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Wildfire Caucus and has made wildfire mitigation and recovery a legislative priority, sponsoring the House-passed Wildfire Recovery Act earlier this year.
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper tweeted on Friday that the “resolve of Boulder County” stands out most in the year since the fire.
“In the face of unprecedented destruction, this community came together and emerged from the devastation,” he said. “Today we remember the lives lost, commend our first responders, and continue rebuilding.”
State Senate President Steve Fenberg, a Democrat from Boulder, tweeted Friday that there needs to be “continued focus on resiliency and making communities as prepared as possible for the impacts of the climate crisis.”
Last legislative session, Colorado lawmakers passed a slate of laws aimed at wildfire mitigation in response to the Marshall Fire and other recent wildfires. That included a law that streamlines the process of filing claims after natural disasters so homeowners can see insurance claims paid out quicker and the creation of a matching grant for local governments fund forest management.
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