Dolores County, Colorado — Colorado officials have declared a disaster emergency as the rapidly expanding Ferris Fire continues to burn across southwest Colorado, prompting additional state resources to help firefighters protect homes and communities.
Gov. Jared Polis announced the verbal disaster declaration on Wednesday after the wildfire surpassed 57,000 acres, activating the State Emergency Operations Plan and making additional personnel, equipment, aviation resources and National Guard assistance available for the ongoing response.
The declaration comes as firefighters continue working around the clock to slow the fire’s spread across parts of Dolores and Montezuma counties.
Disaster Declaration Expands State Response
According to the governor’s office, the emergency declaration is intended to strengthen wildfire suppression efforts and provide local agencies with the resources needed as the fire continues to grow.
In a statement, Polis thanked emergency crews and emphasized the state’s commitment to supporting affected communities.
“Colorado is taking action to support Dolores and Montezuma Counties as crews work to contain the Ferris Fire. This disaster emergency declaration helps bring more state resources, personnel, aviation support, and National Guard assistance to protect lives, property, and communities,” Polis said. “Thank you to the brave firefighters, emergency managers, and first responders working around the clock to keep Coloradans safe.”
The additional support is expected to improve coordination between state and local agencies as containment operations continue.
Ferris Fire Tops 57,000 Acres
By Wednesday morning, officials reported that the Ferris Fire had grown to 57,356 acres while reaching 19% containment.
As the wildfire expanded, California Team 7 assumed command of firefighting operations, bringing additional expertise and resources to the incident.
Crews remain focused on building containment lines, protecting structures and limiting further fire growth as weather conditions continue to shift.
Firefighters Continue Protecting Homes
Dolores County Sheriff Don Wilson urged residents and visitors to avoid road closures and stay away from active firefighting areas to allow emergency crews to work safely.
According to Wilson, firefighters made progress Wednesday by pushing the fire away from homes located to the southwest, reducing the immediate threat to some properties.
Even with those gains, officials caution that conditions remain unpredictable and the wildfire is still considered a significant threat.
Hotter Weather Could Increase Fire Danger
Fire officials said recent thunderstorms produced strong wind gusts and outflow winds that helped drive the fire’s rapid expansion over the past several days.
While forecasts suggest those storms are expected to shift farther north and east, firefighters are preparing for a different challenge later this week.
Meteorologists expect temperatures to climb over the weekend, while relative humidity is forecast to drop into the single digits, creating conditions that could support faster fire growth and make containment efforts more difficult.
Emergency officials continue to monitor changing weather patterns while urging residents to remain alert for evacuation updates and follow instructions from local authorities.
With thousands of acres already burned and challenging weather still ahead, crews are expected to remain engaged in aggressive suppression efforts as Colorado mobilizes additional resources to contain one of the state’s largest active wildfires.
What are your thoughts on Colorado’s response to the Ferris Fire? If you live in or near wildfire-prone areas, how do you prepare during peak fire season? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.