Colorado State Archives

Executive Orders from the Administration of Governor Bill Owens 1999-2005

(DENVER) - Gov. Bill Owens today declared an official State of Emergency for the Mason Gulch fire west of Pueblo. The declaration was issued at the request of local officials.

The declaration authorizes state emergency funds to help with the fire fighting expenses, now expected to run into the millions. The costs will clearly exceed local and county financial resources.

In addition the declaration authorizes the use of additional state fire fighting resources as requested such as, potentially, the National Guard.

At the request of the Governor, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has designated the fire as authorized for federal assistance. The fire is being managed on an inter-agency basis and additional Type-1 fire fighting crews - federal as well as crews from other states - have been requested.

Inter-agency fire managers - state, local and federal - have been at the command post in southern Colorado since Friday when requested by Custer County.

State assets fighting the fire include single engine air tankers under contract to the state as well as ground fire equipment and an inmate crew from the Colorado Department of Corrections.

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