PSR CO Press Release: Superior, Colorado Health Professionals point to climate causes of fires

For immediate release

January 9, 2022
Contact: Barbara Donachy
Phone:720-989-4185
Email: info@psrcolorado.org

SUPERIOR, COLORADO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS POINT TO CLIMATE CAUSES OF FIRES

Superior, Colorado, January 10: PSR Colorado (Physicians for Social Responsibility), an organization of health professionals and other public health-concerned citizens, is deeply saddened by the horrific fires that devastated the Superior, Louisville, and Boulder County communities. Indeed, two members of our PSR Colorado Board of Directors were directly impacted by the firestorm.

Tracy Koller, Family Nurse Practitioner and member of the Superior Open Space Advisory Council writes of the fire in her Superior neighborhood, “The Marshall Fire shouldn’t have happened. Half of my street is in rubble, not only from a grass fire that got out of control, but also from historic dry conditions, unprecedented wind gusts, and a severe drought caused by a climate crisis.”  

Sasha Stiles, MD, Superior resident and PSR Colorado Board member, states, “I evacuated with only the warning knock from a neighbor. I grieve our losses.  Just as deeply, I grieve the inaction by our leaders to protect our homes, environment, and health from the harmful effects of fossil fuel pollution and climate change.”

Both agree with fire scientist Jennifer Balch, who stated in a January 3, Colorado Public Radio interview, “I want to be  crystal clear about this. Climate change is playing a role in this disaster--absolutely. It's not the only part of the story, but it's definitely part of the story.

PSR Colorado urges all Coloradans to make the connection between the Marshall Fire, fossil fuel-related climate change and human health. The production and combustion of fossil fuels is associated with significant health issues including premature death, cancers, birth defects, respiratory diseases, neurological problems, and many more. Lingering health exposures from the Marshall Fire will include the extremely high smoke particulate levels, toxics like formaldehyde emitted from burned homes and possible radionuclide exposure from dirt and dust blown in from Rocky Flats.

Koller ponders the future, “What will be the next treasured community to go up in flames?  There will be more, they will be often, and they will, tragically, get worse.”

We call upon Governor Polis, Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, state legislators and agency officials to use this tragedy as a starting point to aggressively limit fossil fuel production and to reduce our contribution to the climate crisis.  Harv Teitelbaum, board member and a spokesperson for PSR Colorado states, “If ever the time was right to start addressing the root causes behind such catastrophes and taking the necessary steps to prevent their recurrence, it’s now.”  PSR Colorado is ready to stand with those officials willing to take concerted and courageous action and embark on this necessary mission for health and safety.