Antonio Busalacchi, the president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, has issued the following statement on the Dec. 30, 2021, fire in Boulder County: 

Our hearts are broken for the many UCAR staff and members in Boulder County impacted by last week’s Marshall Fire. The holiday season should have offered families in Superior and Louisville a glimmer of joy and hope for the year ahead — instead, nearly 1,000 of them find themselves starting over. This devastation served to compound what was already a very difficult year for the Boulder community. I am heartened by the shelter, meals, and comfort our staff have offered their colleagues, friends, and neighbors, and grateful for the support of our broader community near and far who have reached out the past few days. I also want to extend my deepest thanks to our local first responders, who fought valiantly to save lives, homes, and businesses. The selfless response of so many people shows that while our community has a long recovery ahead, those who can will not hesitate to lend a hand.

At this time, I can report that an initial assessment of NCAR’s Marshall Field Site revealed no structural damage, though there was a loss of power. The Mesa Lab and Research Aviation Facility both sustained very minor damage related to the windstorm, and no other UCAR facilities were damaged. We have made a number of resources — including meals, paid leave, and the support of a licensed psychologist — available to our staff directly impacted by the fires and those struggling to process this loss for our community. We encourage anyone seeking to aid recovery to sign up for the newsletter from Colorado Responds to be alerted to donation and volunteer opportunities.

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