ICYMI: Hickenlooper Visits Aspen Acres Burn Site in Beulah, Talks Drought and Wildfire in the San Luis Valley

In case you missed it, last week U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper traveled across Southern Colorado to survey wildfire damage, drought impacts, and discuss rural investment in the San Luis Valley. On Thursday, Hickenlooper began the day in Buena Vista, meeting with firefighters and local law enforcement at the Willow Fire Incident Command Center before joining forest service staff and public lands advocates at the Collegiate Peaks Overlook to discuss Colorado’s wildfire emergency — and how Trump administration staffing cuts have left public lands agencies under-resourced this season. He then visited the San Luis Valley: touring an affordable housing project in Saguache that he helped secure over $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for, meeting with ranchers and farmers at the Rio Grande Water Conservation District in Alamosa to discuss the West’s historic drought and how falling Rio Grande water levels are threatening local crops. On Friday, Hickenlooper stopped in Walsenburg for a discussion on economic development and federal investment in rural Colorado, then traveled to Beulah, where he toured the Aspen Acres burn site, held a briefing with local law enforcement and fire chiefs at the Pueblo Incident Command Center, and visited the Red Cross shelter to check on evacuees and the community’s needs. Check out what they’re saying: CPR: The Aspen Acres fire roared through the small, close-knit community of Beulah, but residents fought back …Colorado’s senators, John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, toured the area on Friday, and were struck by the level of destruction. “This is obviously a tragedy for Beulah,” said Bennet, adding that it’s also “an amazing example of resilience to see the volunteer firefighters fighting these blazes to save this town while their own houses were being destroyed.” Hickenlooper spoke about spending cuts to federal agencies charged with firefighting, fire mitigation and more. He said resources were available for this fire. “That ain’t going to be true for all the other fires,” he said. He promised to put pressure on the Trump administration, “They made a lot of promises during the campaign that they would provide resources to rural America and we’re not seeing it when we need it.” Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado senators pledge federal aid for Aspen Acres Fire Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper promised on July 10 to do whatever they can to aid Pueblo and other counties affected by the Aspen Acres Fire. …Hickenlooper said that the state of Colorado would owe a “serious debt” to the state of Alaska — the home state of the national critical incident management team overseeing firefighting operations — for its aid. “This should also be a wake-up call. People all over the state of Colorado recognize this is going to be a hot, dry summer, by all accounts, ” Hickenlooper said. Ark Valley Voice: Hickenlooper Hears Concerns Over Wildfire’s Economic Toll During Buena Vista Visit While firefighters continue working to contain the Willow Fire, local leaders told U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper that another challenge is already taking hold across the Arkansas River Valley – the local economy. During a visit to Buena Vista on Thursday, July 9, Hickenlooper met with fire officials before sitting down with local business owners, emergency managers, public land officials, and community leaders. Speakers described how the wildfire has disrupted tourism, strained local businesses, and highlighted the growing challenges communities face as wildfire seasons become longer and more severe. …Earlier that day, Hickenlooper stopped at the Willow Fire Incident Command Post at Buena Vista High School. Fire managers briefed him on current suppression efforts before the roundtable discussion. Valley Courier: Sen. Hickenlooper listens, talks agriculture with local growers. …“I want to hear your stories. People’s stories can change how a senator votes.” Those were some of Colorado U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper’s first words when he began a dialogue with a group of farmers and ranchers from the San Luis Valley at the Rio Grande Water Conservation District. The event, held on Thursday, was the last in a three-stop itinerary. Hickenlooper’s day began in Buena Vista with a conversation about public lands, continued to Saguache where he spoke with locals about affordable housing and ended with the dialogue in Alamosa. In some cases, the stories that producers shared reflected the harsh reality of an ag industry getting hit on all sides at the same time, largely by factors outside of producers’ control. Increasing water scarcity. Inflation, the cost of diesel and fertilizer and other soaring input costs caused by wars on the other side of the globe. Unpredictable markets with a decline in what profits can be made. Tariffs, persistent drought that’s drawing the lifeblood out of agriculture and sweeping budget cuts in areas that can least afford them. “The cuts are staggering,” Hickenlooper said, “and they’re coming in a time of dire need.” …Hickenlooper shared his thoughts, starting with legislation. “We must get a farm bill. Putting the farm bill in a reconciliation is insane, ” he said. “We haven’t had any stable footing for ag in a decade…” WATCH: CBS (Denver, CO): Aspen Acres Fire CBS (Colorado Springs, CO): Aspen Acres Fire NBC (Colorado Springs, CO): Aspen Acres Fire FOX (Colorado Springs, CO): Aspen Acres Fire FOX (Denver, CO): Aspen Acres Fire 9 News (Denver, CO): Aspen Acres Fire ABC (Colorado Springs, CO): Aspen Acres Fire LISTEN: Bloomberg (San Francisco, CA): Aspen Acres Fire KRDO (Colorado Springs, CO): Aspen Acres Fire ###