08/20/2025
So proud of our team!
Emergency Management and Commissioners Thank County Staff for Role in Leroux Fire Response
August 19, 2025
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Behind every successful operation, stands a well-organized team of people who all play critical roles in ensuring the mission is accomplished. Today, Emergency Management had the honor of joining with the Board of County Commissioners in recognizing staff here at Delta County who played a role behind the scenes in assisting and facilitating response efforts and logistics for the Leroux Fire.
Staff at county departments provide these vital services not for recognition, but because it is their duty as public servants. Delta County Emergency Management is grateful to each and every one for their support throughout the fire, and we want to offer a special thanks to the county departments for the professionalism and skills they provided to safeguard our community, and get the job done!
Thank you to the following departments for your role in supporting the Leroux Fire response efforts:
Delta County Search and Rescue Volunteers
Volunteers manned the 3100 Road closure checkpoint for several days and nights,
Delta County Road and Bridge – Districts 2 and 3
Delivered equipment to the fire scene, deployed road barriers and signs, and built fire line with a dozer to assist fire suppression efforts,
Delta County GIS
Deployed interactive maps for evacuated residents, shared geospatial data with the incident management team and coordinated with incident management and emergency management to support incident needs;
Delta County Building and Grounds
Turned the county fairgrounds around from the County Fair to an incident Command Post in record time and provided logistical support to incident and fire crews throughout their deployment to the fairgrounds;
Delta County Sheriff’s Office – Patrol and Dispatch
Dispatchers answered 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls from the public regarding the fire, while coordinating calls for service across the county 24 hours a day;
Deputies conducted door-to-door notifications on the morning of August 4th so no resident was left uninformed about the wildfire burning on Oak Mesa and assisted with the road closure point to ensure public safety for those in the evacuation area and fire crews;
Delta County Public Health
Supported incident response efforts, public outreach and messaging and evacuation center support for evacuees of the fire. Provided critical public health notices regarding wildfire smoke and other health concerns to residents.
Delta County IT
Provided behind the scenes support to departments to support public notification and information sharing, GIS mapping and the technology requests of the incident.
County Public Information
Worked alongside Emergency Management, Public Health and other partners to craft and distribute public updates and messaging for residents living in and near the evacuated area,
County Administration and County Commissioners
Provided direct support to emergency management, and Sheriff’s Office Administration regarding management of the fire response, attended coordination meetings and supported the mission and needs of county staff, fire crews and incident managers throughout the fire.
Delta County Emergency Management of course doesn’t want to overlook the amazing and hard work of the amazing VOLUNTEER firefighters we have at the local fire protection districts here in Delta County that stepped 24/7/365 to serve their community.
Thank you Hotchkiss Fire District, Crawford Volunteer Fire Department Cedaredge Volunteer Fire Department, Paonia Fire Department and Delta Volunteer Fire Department for everything you do for Delta County!!
Thank you also to the BLM - Southwest Colorado Fire and Aviation Management Unit and Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control for your hard work, and leadership during the Leroux Fire and for supplying the resources needed to quickly bring the Leroux Fire under control! Each agency and department plays a role in supporting a wildfire response and this is just one of many examples happening across Colorado to protect communities from wildfire.
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Pictured - Delta County Commissioners and Emergency Management staff with representatives from the named County Departments at the Delta County Board of County Commissioner Meeting.
