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President Joe Biden approved a federal disaster declaration a day after the Marshall Fire ravaged Boulder County communities in Colorado. The blaze destroyed at least 500 homes and structures, and the total loss could be more than 1,000 homes, according to Gov. Jared Polis.
More than 30,000 people were evacuated as the fire — fueled by near-record winds and dry land — engulfed homes, apartment buildings and businesses alike. Gov. Polis issued a state of emergency for the region Thursday.
Governor Polis spoke with President Biden following the fires, describing the impacts of the fire and the need for additional support from the government, according to a White House release.
“Biden assured [Polis] that every effort will be made to provide immediate help to people in the impacted communities,” the White House said on Twitter. “FEMA is already working with their counterparts in Colorado to surge assistance.”
.@POTUS spoke this morning with Governor Jared Polis to discuss the no-notice wildfires that have caused significant property damage and loss in Colorado. President Biden assured him that every effort will be made to provide immediate help to people in the impacted communities.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 31, 2021
FEMA may foot the bill for up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs the state incurs while putting the blaze out. Those funds come out of a federal grant – Fire Management Assistance Grants – that can also pay to mitigate future threats such as burn scar flooding.
The Boulder Office of Emergency Management told residents it ordered to evacuate to stay put as of Friday morning.
“We know that you are concerned about your home/belongings,” the office said in a tweet Friday. “We will notify you about re-entering your homes as soon as we can.”
“In Colorado, we are not unfamiliar with natural disasters that tear through our communities and disrupt our everyday lives,” Sen. Michael Bennet said in a statement. “In every case, we have come together to build back stronger than before, and I am absolutely certain that will be the case again.”
