Colorado Begs Trump for $18M Wildfire Aid After Denials

Aspen —"Custer County citizens are extremely resilient and are adept at handling anything thrown their way," Custer County Commissioner Lucas Epp said in the Colorado Governor’s Office’s news release Sunday.

He wasn’t talking about the heat wave. He was talking about the fact that the water system in Beulah is broken because the fire burned it out.

Epp’s optimism rings hollow against the backdrop of the state’s latest plea for Washington to pay the bill. Gov. Jared Polis sent a formal request for federal aid Sunday. He wants the Trump administration to declare the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires a major disaster.

The stakes are high. The blazes caused over $18 million in damage to public infrastructure. Electricity grids went down. Water mains burst. Debris flows from the burn scars killed one person.

Make no mistake, this is a political fight as much as a natural disaster response. President Donald Trump has a track record of withholding funding from Colorado. He views the state as a blue-state stronghold that voted against him.

Since August 2025, Colorado has asked Trump for major disaster declarations twice. Both times, he said no. First, it was the Elk and Lee fires. Second, it was the flooding in southwestern Colorado. Colorado appealed both denials. In April, the Trump administration rejected the appeals.

Now, the state is back. Kevin Klein, director of the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, knows the odds aren’t good.

“I don’t want to hazard a guess on what the chances (of success) are, but we’re making sure that we have a robust request and that we’ve met all the requirements,” Klein said.

To get federal money, Colorado must prove that local resources are exhausted. FEMA offers everything from direct cash assistance to legal help and debris removal. But the rules are strict.

The entire Colorado Congressional delegation joined the effort. Republicans and Democrats sent a joint letter to the White House Monday. It’s rare for the party lines to blur so completely.

Beulah is a small community in Custer County. The fire swallowed it whole. Residents are mourning homes they haven’t even finished rebuilding. Insurance claims are piling up. Flash floods keep hitting the same scorched earth. A local water official described the situation as overwhelming. The utility sent its own plea for help directly to the Trump administration. They can’t wait for the governor’s paperwork to clear federal hurdles.

The request now moves through federal channels. Different officials will review it before it lands on Trump’s desk. He decides when, or if, to sign.

Families in the valley are tired of waiting. They are navigating a maze of red tape while their roofs leak. The government moves slowly. The weather does not.

Epp said the disaster proved that fire behavior has changed. He noted that the National Forests are out of local control for wildfire mitigation.

That is the short version. We are asking the man who thinks we spend too much to pay for our burnt-out pipes.