Issuu

WEEK OF JUNE 19, 2025

VOLUME 54 | ISSUE 2

fire risk SHOUTING OUT FUR-LING FEST Colorado grows as federal

Dog-devoted day draws people, pets to Idaho Springs P6

funding wanes

Uncertain federal support undercuts preparedness in Colorado communities

BY LINDSEY TOOMER NEWSLINE

PFAs are human-made chemicals that resist oils, stains, water, and heat. The chemicals are common in non-stick coatings on cookware, coatings for carpets and fabrics, paper and cardboard food packaging, fire-

Wildfire experts say the best way for Colorado to reduce the destructive power of wildfires is to prepare a proactive response supported by the federal government. But it’s uncertain whether federal resources will continue to support fire mitigation and resilience projects, and organizations that work on those projects are no longer sure whom to talk to at federal agencies they’ve previously worked with. In a fire-prone state that’s entering the warm months, this has reduced momentum on fire prevention efforts some experts say are essential to protecting Colorado communities. The Trump administration has upended federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management with staff reductions and reorganizations. And the federal hiring freeze Trump implemented on inauguration day has meant many open positions are left unfilled. Rebecca Samulski, executive director of Fire Adapted Colorado, a nonprofit that supports wildfire resilience professionals around the state, said the energy around proactive mitigation has “kind of stalled right now,” as organizations determine how to stay afloat without the guarantee of federal support. With all of the moving pieces, prevention experts have again become reactive while trying to “stay sane.” “I just think it’s really important that

SEE PFAS, P2

SEE FIRE RISK, P12

Testing shows PFAS in many mountain water systems BY JANE REUTER JANE@COTLN.ORG

Conifer resident Ralf Topper was taken aback earlier this year when he saw a notification at his doctor’s office warning of chemical contamination of the domestic water supply. In a random state test conducted in April 2024, Conifer Medical Center tested positive

for PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid, part of a larger group of manmade chemicals known as PFAS or forever chemicals. Topper has since learned the center is among many places in the area with systems containing PFAS. “When I went on the (state) website and looked at where they had positive results, I was very surprised to see how

ubiquitous this contamination was,” he said. “This is not point sourced. This is now throughout our environment, and that’s really scary.” Conifer High School also tested positive for the chemical, along with 26 water systems identified by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in 2024 as exceeding the new federal stan-

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