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Marshall Fire in Boulder County – Information and Donations

ByThe Colorado Sound
Marshall Fire Boulder County Lisa Siciliano/Dog Daze Photo
Marshall Fire photo by Lisa Siciliano/Dog Daze Photo

The Marshall Fire erupted in Boulder Country on Thursday, Dec. 30. Dry conditions and high winds led to extensive property damage and evacuations. In the end, more than 30,000 people had to be evacuated and over 1000 homes were destroyed. 

Below are resources for people impacted by the fire. We also have have included options for people looking to donate money, their time, or physical goods to help those in need.  

Emergency Resources

Boulder County has a comprehensive resource and information page for those impacted by the fire. The focus is now on longer-term recovery. 

The Boulder County Disaster Assistance Center opened in January to help those who lost houses or were directly affected by the Marshall Fire. The center is now closed to walk-in assistance, according to Boulder County. However, those receiving local financial assistance will continue to be notified for appointments to pick up the funding at the Wildfire Funds Distribution Center in the same location.

Assistance with FEMA-related questions is available to disaster survivors by phone at the FEMA Helpline, 800-621-3362 or online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Those needing help from the Small Business Administration can call 800-659-2955, email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov, or visit DisasterLoanAssistance.SBA.gov.

Assistance is potentially available for the following related to the Marshall Fire:

  • Anyone with a home that was destroyed or damaged
  • Anyone who was forced to evacuate
  • Any homeowner or renter displaced due to smoke or ash
  • Those who lost the ability to work (including home businesses) due to the fire
  • Residents who lost “tools of the trade” to the fire (excluding computers or computer equipment)
  • Anyone with a small local business that was destroyed or damaged (including home businesses)

This assistance is available to any impacted community members regardless of documentation status, and help with the application process is available in multiple languages by emailing HHSMarshallFire@bouldercounty.org. And check this Boulder County website for more information.

 

The Boulder Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has updates on recovery and support efforts. For comprehensive information, visit this Boulder OEM resource page. 

Boulder OEM has also put together a fact sheet about emergency notifications.

The Boulder OEM recommends following their Facebook and Twitter pages for the most current information. 

Masks (KN95 and others) are available free from the state of Colorado at select locations. Limit is five masks per person per month.

Health Insurance Special Enrollment Period: For those affected by Omicron or the Marshall Fire, Coloradans can buy health insurance during an extended open enrollment period. Deadline is March 16, 2022. 

 

Business and Financial Assistance

The state of Colorado website has additional helpful information. This includes behavioral health resources, insurance information, and instructions on how to apply for FEMA or Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance.   

According to the Boulder Reporting Lab, those who lost wages or essential work tools due to the Marshall Fire may be eligible for financial assistance, thanks to a partnership between Boulder County and Community Foundation Boulder County.

More details on financial assistance, including disaster unemployment assistance and special IRS tax provisions, are listed on this Boulder County resource page under ‘Financials.’

 

Animals and Pets

If your animal or pet is missing, you can visit this Facebook page for information and a process for finding them.

If your pet needs food, you can reach out to the Colorado Pet Pantry. 

Boulder County Fire Rescue also has a request form for missing pets.

 

Water Safety and Air Quality

The city of Superior posts that water tests have achieved drinking water standards. However, some residents have complained about a smoky odor or taste, so tests are still ongoing. 

The city of Louisville reports that water service has been restored, but they continue to monitor water quality.

Boulder County has a comprehensive page focusing on air, water, and soil quality. They’ve also published a PDF for anyone in the area who is considering gardening this year.  

This Boulder Reporting Lab story talks about water safety and why it’s important to be cautious.

The Boulder Reporting Lab also published a story on the potential harmful effects of post-wildfire smoke in your home. 

Follow the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE)’s Twitter feed for more health-related updates.  

 

Schools

The Boulder Reporting Lab also notes that the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) is asking students and families affected by the fire to fill out this form. 

 

Mental Health Support

If you are having a hard time, Community Foundation Boulder County recommends reaching out to the following organizations for mental health support:

 

Donations, Volunteering, Support

If you are looking to offer donations to this emergency event, the Boulder OEM recommends donating to the Red Cross or Community Foundation Boulder County. 

You can also donate to Community Foundation Boulder County using the Colorado Gives link:

For physical goods and service donations, Boulder OEM is directing people to fill out this form. 

The Boulder OEM donation site at Flatiron Crossing is no longer accepting physical donations from individuals. For bulk donations, schedule an appointment by calling 720-574-2300.
 

If you want to volunteer, another source to visit is Colorado Responds. 

Additional groups supporting those impacted by the fires:

And this Sonoma Magazine article provides tips for helping people who have lost their homes to a fire. 

 

Marshall Together is a central resource hub aimed at helping those impacted by the fire and offering opportunities for those looking to help. As relayed through the Boulder Reporting Lab, “If you know any members of our community who were not impacted directly by the Marshall Fire and are interested in volunteering, please have them send us an email. This is a long recovery process and the help that existed at the beginning is waning. We have requests for support around all types of things and could use help.”

 

Benefit Concerts and Events

AEG Presents, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Community Foundation of Boulder President Tatiana Hernandez, and Nathaniel Rateliff of Colorado-based band Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats have announced a virtual benefit concert to support disaster survivors of the Marshall Fire. The pre-recorded concert will go live online February 28 for a minimum $10 donation. The lineup will feature Rateliff along with more than 15 Colorado-based artists and popular national acts including the Avett Brothers, Lyle Lovett, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Lake Street Dive, the Motet, Leftover Salmon, Michael Franti, Amos Lee, Brittany Howard…and more to be announced. Visit Veeps.com for a ticket link. 

On Feb. 4, the Boulder Theater hosted Music for Marshall, a concert event and silent auction benefiting those impacted by the Marshall Fire. Headliners the Drunken Hearts were joined by additional Colorado artists including members of the String Cheese Incident, the Motet, Leftover Salmon, and Elephant Revival.

 

Voter Registration

Louisville residents displaced by the fire are encouraged to check their voter registration and add an alternative mailing address for the April special election, as ballots cannot be forwarded. 

 

 

We will continue to provide updated information on the Marshall Fire and its impact as it becomes available. Please also visit our sister station KUNC for news and community updates.