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Governor Polis Declared Disaster Emergency as Sharpe Fire Burns Over 28,000 Acres in Baca County
Description: Walsh Ambulance at the Sharpe Fire in Southeast Colorado, photo by Kylie Kay Parker. Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency for the Sharpe Fire in Baca County, where more than 28,000 acres have burned and Campo was under evacuation orders.
Governor Polis Verbally Declared Disaster Emergency in Response to Sharpe Fire in Baca County
DENVER — Sunday, May 17, 2026 — Colorado Governor Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency in response to the Sharpe Fire burning in Baca County. The fire is currently estimated at more than 28,000 acres and prompted an evacuation order for the Town of Campo.
The declaration activates the State Emergency Operations Plan and directs multiple state agencies to support local response efforts. Agencies involved include the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Office of Emergency Management, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
State assistance includes engines and hand crews, aviation resources, incident management personnel, and overhead support. The declaration also provides support for fire and contaminant response, real-time imaging, mapping, fire behavior modeling, and intelligence products to assist emergency managers and field crews.
Baca County emergency officials, Campo emergency management, the Baca County Sheriff’s Office, and the local emergency operations center are coordinating with state partners as the fire response continues.
Residents in affected areas should follow evacuation orders, monitor official emergency updates, and avoid fire response zones to allow crews to work safely.
