United Way expands fire relief fund

United Way of Larimer County recently launched a Cameron Peak Fire Response Fund. However, given increased wildfire activity with the East Troublesome Fire into Larimer County, threatening Estes Park and other Larimer County mountain communities, the agency has updated the name of the relief fund to ensure that support and resources go to any and all Larimer County wildfires.

The Cameron Peak Fire is the state’s largest wildfire in recorded histor y, and the East Troublesome Fire is the second largest.

Community members can donate online to the Larimer County Fire Recover y Fund at https:/ /impact.uwaylc.org/ Lcfirerecover yfund. Or they can text COFIRES to 501501 to automatically make a $10 gift

“Larimer County is known for its high quality of life, which includes access to hundreds of hiking trails in the foothills and Rocky Mountain National Park, beautiful mountain towns, stunning vistas, connected neighborhoods and diverse communities,” Deirdre

Sullivan, CEO and president at United Way of Larimer County, said in an announcement of the expanded focus of the fund.

“With the state’s two largest wildfires in state history burning in our backyard, we are partnering with community members and a wide variety of organizations to ensure fire recovery efforts are well supported and implemented quickly. United Way and the Larimer County Long Term Recover y Group will distribute these gifts where they are needed most: to agencies and groups helping people recover from disaster.”

Sullivan said the American Red Cross has expanded capacity for the fires and is providing temporar y shelter for displaced families. Unfor tunately, the ef fects of the fires will be long-lasting, and financial assistance is needed to suppor t displaced families as they rebuild their lives in the coming months and years, she said.

The United Way will post volunteer oppor tunities on its website, www.nocovolunteers.org, when it is safe for that activity.