In Colorado, the Long Aftermath of a Fire Feels Political

Kyle Thomson is still dealing with wildfires extinguished more than nine months ago.

The Lee fire tore through Rio Blanco County, Colo., on the state’s Western Slope, in August and September, burning close to 137,800 acres. For months, Mr. Thomson, a lineman for White River Electric Association, a small utility cooperative, trekked several miles a day, picking up charred debris from burned power lines and restringing wires that cut through the rugged terrain.

But funding to finish the repairs has become contentious. And a brutal fire season is expected this summer, with a historically low snowpack and drought conditions in the West.

The Lee fire was the fifth-largest wildfire in Colorado history, “a tornado of fire,” as Mr. Thomson put it. Last year, as embers still smoldered, he assessed the damage. On his tablet, he pecked out his findings with dirt-caked fingers: $104,557 for 32 burned poles on Highway 13; $250,000 for 55 burned poles on County Road 22.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/27/business/colorado-fire-fema-aid-denied.html