Study: Urban wildfires leave nearby homes with toxic air for months ...Middle East

Good morning from the snowy Mountain West!

This is how I’ve been for the last 48 hours: swinging between the reality of a stubborn Arctic blast at home and watching Southern California burn through your screen of choice. I’m sure many of you reading this can relate.

Here in Colorado, it’s hard to see the Palisades and other Los Angeles-area fires and not flash back to our own wind-whipped winter blaze, the Marshall fire. In the three years since the late-December fire stormed through Boulder County, we’ve seen the short- and long-term effects of these blazes uproot families and leave others struggling to stay healthy even when their homes didn’t burn (see Michael Booth’s story below for more on that).

With the likelihood of wildfire increasing across the West, what can you do to prepare? There are a few relatively easy things you can do right now.

Check your insurance . If you own your home, make sure your fire (and flood) coverage is up to date and — importantly — covers enough to actually rebuild (to avoid the situation many Marshall fire survivors found themselves in). If you’re a renter, make sure your renter’s insurance is up to date and includes fire coverage. Make a plan . The Department of Homeland Security created Ready.gov to help organize your family’s emergency plan. Get some apps . As social media networks continue to degrade, they are getting worse at distributing verified information in an emergency. I suggest installing Watch Duty , a nonprofit app that lets you monitor active wildfires all over the country and get alerts for nearby fires. And not to toot our own horn, but installing The Colorado Sun app and apps for other trusted local news outlets can help you cut through the noise instead of trying to separate fact from fiction in your feed (plus it’s a great way to stay connected to Colorado news in general).

While I would love to be able to promise that you’ll never need any of these things, the reality of our changing climate means that it’s more important than ever to be prepared.

Now that you’ve sent that note to your insurance agent and downloaded our app, let’s turn our attention back here to our chilly, snow-covered state and get into some news, shall we?

Eric Lubbers

CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

P.S. — Stay tuned to coloradosun.com (or the aforementioned Colorado Sun app) later today where we’ll be posting our annual annotated transcript of Gov. Jared Polis’ state of the state address where we can help you understand all of the context and references for the speech (here’s last year’s, to see what I mean). The address kicks off at 11 a.m. today, and our transcript won’t be far behind.

THE NEWS

ENVIRONMENT

As California reels, study shows Marshall fire made air in nearby homes hazardous for months

Researchers from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences in Boulder set up air monitoring equipment in a home across the street from destroyed Marshall fire homes to check chemical levels after health complaints from residents. (CIRES photo)

In the wake of the destructive Marshall fire in 2021, CU researchers installed air monitoring equipment in homes near the burned areas to create what they call the first study of lived-in homes after a fire. And as Michael Booth reports, they found that toxic levels of air contamination remained for much longer than expected.

Sale, manufacture of semiautomatic guns that accept detachable magazines would be banned in Colorado under bill

An AR-15 style rifle is displayed at the Firing-Line indoor range and gun shop during the summer of 2012 in Aurora. (Alex Brandon, AP Photo, file)

On the first day of the 2025 legislative session, Democrats introduced Senate Bill 3, which would affect many pistols and rifles that are classified as semiautomatic weapons that can accept detachable magazines. Jesse Paul reports on the effect the legislation could have and the road ahead under the dome.

On opening day of Colorado’s legislative session, some Republicans refuse to approve 2024 election results. Reps. Ken DeGraaf and Scott Bottoms, both of Colorado Springs, led the push to question election results — echoing without evidence the Republican election denial movement that began in 2020, Brian Eason reports.

OUTDOORS

Colorado’s wolf reintroduction stays on track after wildlife commission denies petition for pause in program

Colorado Parks and Wildlife released five gray wolves onto public land in Grand County on Dec. 18, 2023. Pictured is wolf 2302-OR, a juvenile female from the Five Points pack in Oregon, weighing 68 pounds. (Jerry Neal, Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

“Whenever you have a day like today, there’s a sense of winners and losers. The ranchers have some uncertainty — are we going to follow through? Is (reintroduction) going to work? And words are words until they’re followed up with actions, so that will be the key piece for us.”

— CPW director Jeff Davis

Weeks before another 10 to 15 new wolves are set to be released on the Western Slope, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission denied a petition filed by ranchers in September to pause the program. Tracy Ross has more on the meeting the next steps for reintroduction.

A home and a shelter: As Assad regime falls, Syrian refugee finds safety and family in Lafayette

Rohan Mesto jumps on the trampoline in the backyard of his sponsor’s home in Lafayette on Dec. 5. (Natalie Kerr, Boulder Weekly)

“I can call Lafayette the home sweet home. It’s the warm home for me. It’s the shelter for me.”

— Rohan Mesto, a Syrian refugee living in Colorado

Boulder Weekly’s Natalie Kerr brings us the story of how one refugee who found a place in Colorado through the State Department’s Welcome Corps program is navigating the fall of the Assad regime — and how the incoming administration could affect the program that found him a home.

Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

COLORADO REPORT

Steamboat Springs police use social media to identify skier who allegedly punched ski coach. After a confrontation on the Short Cut run, a skier followed a coach for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club down the hill and allegedly punched him three times. The name of the suspect hasn’t been released, but Steamboat police say they are working on a warrant for arrest.— Steamboat Pilot & Today $19M deal will close 3 freight rail crossings near downtown Denver. Once CDOT owns the rights to the Burnham Yard rail line, it can tear out a section of track that would eliminate three rail crossings and potentially allow the construction of a new neighborhood.— Denverite Denver Stockyard Saloon, cornerstone of National Western complex, closing its doors. As the National Western Complex neighborhood continues to be revamped, the legendary Stockyard Saloon will close its doors in April after a clash between the restaurant and building owners over renovation plans.— The Denver Post ? Former Morrison police chief under investigation for alleged policy violations gets new police chief job in Walsenburg. Walsenburg still plans to hire Bill Vinelli even as the former Morrison police chief is under investigation for policy violations, including the use of overtime and compensation related to working concerts at Red Rocks.— Colorado Public Radio

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Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

What’s Happening

Jan. 11-15

Longhorn cattle stroll up 17th Street from Denver Union Station in the parade to officially kick off the 118th National Western Stock Show on Jan. 4, 2024. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)

Western Stock Show. There is no surer sign of Stock Show season than watching 30 longhorn cattle amble down 17th Street in downtown Denver. The annual kickoff parade happens today, departing at 1 p.m. from Union Station, led by Grand Marshall Kathy Sabine, 9News chief meteorologist and former rodeo queen. (The start is delayed an hour from the usual noon step off because of the weather. Bundle up!)

And that is, of course, just the start. Over 16 days, from Jan. 11-26, the National Western Complex and Denver Coliseum host dozens of daily rodeos and rope shows, dog trials, donkey contests, and graceful dancing horses. Admission is free Tuesday (just be ready for big crowds), otherwise adult ticket prices range from $27-$34 for the day. Some special events are ticketed separately, so make sure you check the events ticketing page before you take off for PBR Bull Riding or the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza.

Various prices; Jan.11-26; National Western Complex, 1515 E. 47th Ave., Denver

Adultiverse Space Rodeo. Meow Wolf’s version of a Western Stock Show kickoff party. Special themed cocktails and adults-only access to the exhibits from 5-10 p.m, plus a $150 gift card awarded to the most cosmically inclined ranch hand. $49; 5 p.m., Jan. 11; Meow Wolf, 1338 First St., Denver Heji Shin Sound Bath. An immersive sound experience of Heji Shin’s photo exhibition at the Aspen Art Museum, led by Megan DiSabatino. Afterward, unwind with tea and light bites. Free for members, $25 nonmembers; 10 a.m., Jan. 13; Aspen Art Museum, 637 East Hyman Ave., Aspen Adventure & Climate Action with Caroline Gleich. An hourlong talk by professional ski mountaineer, climate activist and former Congressional hopeful Caroline Gleich. Event is free with registration. Free; 7:30-8:30 p.m., Jan. 9; 136 S. Main St., Breckenridge

Parker Yamasaki | Reporter

Thanks for sticking with us all the way to the bottom of today’s newsletter. Stay safe, stay warm and stay prepared. We’ll see you back here tomorrow to close out the week strong!

— Eric & the whole staff of The Sun

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