COLORADO SPRINGS???The mayor of this beleaguered city told reporters after President Barack Obama departed on Air Force One that he was thankful for the visit and described his two-and-a-half hours with the president during the tour of the Waldo Canyon Fire damage.
Air Force One was wheels up from Colorado Springs airport at 2:42 p.m. Afterward Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach said the firefighting effort "shows the power of federal, state and local governments working together."
Bach was in the limo with Obama, Gov. John Hickenlooper and others for about 2 1/2 hours. He said the president was "very down to earth, very straightforward, smart, and wants to help."
In the limo, they talked about the fire
as well as the economy. Bach told the president unemployment is high here, and "our people need jobs.""I told him we need his help to get the economy going again," Bach said.
They also talked about basketball and golf, their families, and ? the theme that kept coming up ? the importance of community.
"We can provide resources at federal level but we can't provide courage," Bach said.
Bach said the mood in the limo was somber as they drove through Mountain Shadows. Obama was "very taken by what he saw."
He described the president as "very engaging." Bach said his most poignant memory of the visit will be that on several occasions Obama got out of car, came right up to engage the people and hugged them, thanking them.
"I think he was very sincere in that," he said.
"It was more than a photo op for him. He clearly wanted to say to the people, the firefighters, 'this matters and the country has your back.' That means a lot."
Asked about the criticism that this was politicking, Bach brushed it off:
"People are criticizing me for things too," Bach said.
"Yes, it is election season, but this is a conservative county not likely to vote for him. So the fact he
US President Barack Obama tours the Mountain Shadow neighborhood which was burned by wildfires about 72 hours ago, on June 29, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Obama, who declared a major disaster in Colorado and offered federal assistance, is in the Colorado Springs area to survey wildfire damage and efforts to contain the natural disaster. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/GettyImages (AFP | BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI)
would come into this bastion of conservatism shows me a lot. I'm very thankful".Congressman Doug Lamborn of Colorado's 5th Congressional District said that he was in Colorado Springs until Wednesday morning, celebrating a subdued victory in his primary race after the fire's onslaught Tuesday night. Lamborn returned to Colorado Springs on board Air Force One with the president.
"It was devastating," Lamborn said of the fire damage and the 346 homes that were burned. "I hope that any (residents) that still don't have the final word get that finalized, so at least they know."
"This is a great community for showing support," Lamborn said. "It's a great state."
"To know that we have national support from the President on
A view taken from Air Force One shows smoke from wildfire near Interstate 25 on June 29, 2012 in Colorado. US President Barack Obama, who declared a major disaster in Colorado and offered federal assistance, is traveling to the Colorado Springs area to survey wildfire damage and the efforts to contain the natural disaster. (Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images/AFP)
down is reassuring also," Lamborn said.Touring the Mountain Shadows area damaged in the fire was "heartbreaking," Lamborn said.
"There is some real devastation and obviously the heat was immense," Lamborn said. "But we also some some firefighters still working on the scene."
Lamborn said he and the president spoke about federal resources for the fire.
"We found out earlier that more MAFFS are coming from both the east coast and the west coast and that's tremendously encouraging," Lamborn said, referring to the Modular Airborne FireFighting System mounted in Air Force C-130's and used to drop fire retardant.
"There are already tremendous resources being brought to bear," Lamborn said.
"Especially if there's going to be more seasons like this, we want to make sure the resources are a priority," Lamborn said, "so the federal government can manage the lands it owns."
"I told him I appreciated his concern for Colorado Springs and for Colorado," Lamborn said of his discussions with Obama. "I gave him a heartfelt, 'Thank you,' and he made some good points in his remarks to the firefighters that they were the real heroes in protecting life and property."
Lamborn drew criticism earlier this year for skipping Obama's address to Congress on the annual State of the Union.
During the tour, Obama praised first responders and firefighters during his tour Friday in Colorado Springs of the Waldo Canyon Fire.
"They are genuine heroes," the president said. "We want to say thank you to all the folks involved in this.
"They are putting their lives at risk to help us and to save us."
Obama said that though he considered the collaboration of local, state and federal agencies "outstanding," the destruction of the early fire season demonstrated a need for long-term planning.
"When natural disasters happen like this, Americans come together," Obama said. "We all have to make sure we have each others' backs. That spirit is what you have seen here."
Shortly after noon, the president exited Air Force One followed closely by Sen. Michael Bennet and Lamborn, who traveled with him from Washington. The president is wearing khaki pants, loafers and a light blue button-up shirt with the collar open.
He was greeted on the tarmac by:
- Bach
-Hickenlooper
- Senator Mark Udall
- Tom Tidwell, U.S. Forest Service Chief
- General Charles Jacoby, Commander, NORAD-NORTHCOM
- General William Shelton, Commander, Air Force Space Wing
- Colonel Chris Crawford, Commander, 21st Space Wing
- Rich Harvey, incident commander for the Waldo Canyon fire
- Jerri Marr, forest supervisor, Pike and San Isabel forests
The president stopped to shake hands and speak briefly with each of the people in the reception line. He gave Harvey and Marr each a pat on the arm as he spoke.
The cost of fighting the fire is about $5.2 million, according to the fire command. President Obama declared Colorado a federal disaster area overnight Friday.
Hickenlooper had submitted a request for a major disaster declaration that would include additional programs under the Individual Assistance Program as well as Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation statewide. The remaining portions of the Governor's request are under review.
The declaration provides federal money and assistance to affected areas, including FEMA and temporary housing assistance, debris removal and repairs and restoration of publicly owned facilities.
The Waldo Canyon Fire ? the most destructive in state history ? has burned at least 347 homes and at one point forced more than 32,000 people from their homes.
It is one of at least nine major wildfires burning statewide.
Obama's trip has raised some complaints that the security-intensive visit will be a distraction. Former Gov. Bill Owen's said Thursday that the visit was ill-advised, and some residents have grumbled about the trip, while others are applauding the decision.
"Is it just another political photo op?" Colorado Springs resident Dan Roda asks. "Where's he going after, another fundraiser?"
This will be President Obama's second visit to Colorado Springs in a little over a month. He gave the commencement speech at the Air Force Academy on May 23.
Roda said while he isn't a resident of the evacuated areas, friends from the affected neighborhoods have been staying in his house, which is currently like a "home-based evacuee bed and breakfast," he said.
"I don't see why he's getting in (to the areas) before homeowners do," Roda said.
The fire has claimed 346 homes and caused thousands of residents to be displaced. One death is confirmed.
For Ute Riesenberg, a resident of an unincorporated area in Larkspur, the president is in a no-win situation.
"I think it's good, but I think a lot of people are going to twist and turn this. Like, if he wouldn't come they would say, 'he doesn't give a damn.' By coming they'll say he's taking away resources," Riesenberg said.
"I think he's doing all he can to help people out," she added. "By coming, he shows that he cares."
In a letter to the president, Colorado's delegation noted more than 200,000 acres have burned statewide already this year, and more than $50 million has been spent on fire suppression.
Hickenlooper said he was on the phone with Obama earlier this week when the president asked if he could be constructive if he came to the area. The governor told him he thought the people of Colorado would appreciate the show of the support.
Hickenlooper brushed off criticism that the visit may be a distraction, saying no firefighters will be taken away from the fire line to provide tours or security. He also said local and state leaders supported the idea.
"These were Republicans down in Colorado Springs who were saying 'yes, this is what the community needs now, so the president should demonstrate the country supports them,'" Hickenlooper said.
Owens, governor during the 2002 Hayman Fire, questioned the wisdom of the visit on his Facebook page and in an interview Thursday, saying it may take resources away from the fire. During Hayman, then-President Bush's staff asked about a presidential visit, but Owens politely asked them not to come, he said.
Asked if Obama may have political motivations to visit a battleground state in a tight election year, Owens, a Republican, was brief.
"I bet the White House hasn't failed to notice that," he said.
Hickenlooper said the president was clear that he doesn't want to be asked about the race.
"He wants to make the focus of this the firefighters and the people who have been displaced," he said.
Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach also said he doesn't think the fire will be a distraction.
"I really appreciate the president coming here, as I appreciated the governor coming the other night," Bach said. "I do plan to ask for cash."
Staff writer Erin Udell contributed to this report.
Sara Burnett: 303-954-1661 or sburnett@denverpost.com
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