The 2020 wildfire season has been one of the worst in Colorado history. The three largest wildfires in state history have all occurred this year. The Cameron Peak Fire is the largest, followed by the East Troublesome Fire.
The arrival of winter weather on Saturday, October 25 helped slow the spread of the active fires, but many people were forced to evacuate and there are some reports that say as many as 400 homes burned in the East Troublesome Fire.
Here's a list of places to go to donate for those in need. In Colorado, we always show up for each other in good times and bad.
WILDFIRE HELP: Financial donations are the best way to support people impacted by these wildfires. It allows for flexible and immediate support to each individual’s needs. You can donate at https://t.co/0SuERt0Lt6pic.twitter.com/ksp5cVMhdU
On November 4, Governor Jared Polis announced a partnership with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to create a fund for victims of Colorado's wildfires.
“Colorado communities have been devastated by historic, climate-induced wildfires and this fund will help us swiftly respond, build up reserves throughout the year and more, while strategically allocating funding to communities who need it the most,” Polis said in a news release. “I encourage Coloradans and any individual or organization willing to help our communities impacted by wildfires.”
Colorado Responds is an organization that helps Coloradans after disasters like wildfires, floods, and even COVID-19: https://www.coloradoresponds.org
The American Red Cross has a donation page set up as well. People can also sign up to volunteer on the Red Cross website here.
Finally, you can sign up for emergency alerts in your county by following this link.
Help for Larimer County:
Larimer County has been affected by both the Cameron Peak Fire and the East Troublesome fire. The latter burned many parts of Rocky Mountain National Park and encroached upon Estes Park, prompting evacuations. At least two people have died in the East Troublesome Fire.
You can also donate by texting “LarimerUnited” to 41444.
Help for Grand County:
The East Troublesome Fire has burned over 190,000 acres. It has devastated parts of Grand Lake. To help residents in that area, you can donate to the Grand County Wildfire Emergency Fund:
People can also donate clothing and non-perishable food to the Church of Eternal Hills, which is collecting the items for people in need. The drop-off location is at Fraser Valley Elementary. More information is available here.
