After Trump cuts, Colorado could be more vulnerable to fires

Plus: Major gun regulation sailing to governor’s desk, infamous Aurora apartment complex condemned, sweeping layoffs in the Forest Service and more

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Feb 19, 2025 - 09:09
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After Trump cuts, Colorado could be more vulnerable to fires
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Good morning, Colorado.

Yesterday was a big day: We finally moved the boxes of Christmas decorations into storage. No more tripping on miniature trees. I ask you to not judge how long it took us to put it all away.

So to distract you from my faux pas, let’s instead turn our attention to the news.

P.S. Speaking of past holidays … if you haven’t read the valentines to our home state people sent us, you’re missing out. Check them out.

U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighter Jeff Macklin ignites piles of dead trees May 5 to burn more than 400 acres of beetle-killed trees before hot, dry summer conditions raise the risk of wildfire in Summit County. Beetles have killed 3.4 million acres of lodgepole and ponderosa pine forest in Colorado since 1996. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)

As Colorado fire officials prepare for the upcoming peak wildfire season, their hands are tied after President Trump issued an executive order freezing all hiring across the government. Despite clarification that firefighters are exempt, Olivia Prentzel reports on the many other positions affected that provide critical support for the firefighters on the ground.

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Hundreds of people lined the road to the Beaver Meadows entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park on Monday to protest the firings of National Park Service employees. (Lincoln Roch, Special to The Colorado Sun)

While officials are concerned about lack of staff to fight fires, the blanket layoffs of more than 150 workers who prevent fires in the first place are hitting the U.S. Forest Service hard. Jason Blevins obtained a list of the workers let go, including dozens of seasonal employees who perform fire mitigation tasks, and has more on the ripple effects.

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An AR-15 with a detachable magazine at Bristlecone Shooting, Training and Retail Center in Lakewood on Jan. 16. (Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun)

Senate Bill 3 passed the chamber on a 19-15 vote, with three Democrats joining all of the Republican senators in voting against the measure. Jesse Paul explains the current state of the bill, which is now expected to sail through the House.

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A security officer sits in his car Feb. 5 at The Edge at Lowry in Aurora. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents knocked on doors in the complex that morning, but residents did not answer. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)

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The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy and submit columns, suggest writers or provide feedback at opinion@coloradosun.com.

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Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from bookstores across Colorado. This week, the staff from The Bookies Bookstore in Denver recommends:

Read what the bookstore staff had to say about each. Pick up a copy and support your local bookstores at the same time.

RECOMMENDATIONS

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Time to put up the St. Patrick’s Day decorations and leave them up until summer, I guess. Have a great day!

— Danika & the whole staff of The Sun

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Notice something wrong? The Colorado Sun has an ethical responsibility to fix all factual errors. Request a correction by emailing corrections@coloradosun.com.

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