Financial relief soon available for Colorado wildfire victims

Unprecedented financial relief for victims of wildfires including the Marshall fire will soon be available.

In May, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 22-206 to provide financial relief to wildfire survivors along with investing funds to give Colorado communities and first responders more tools to fight fires in the immediate future.

“We are stepping in to provide much-needed support to help Coloradans rebuild stronger and more resiliently,” Polis said in a release. “As we face the reality of a year-round fire season, we are taking action to prepare for and prevent wildfires and making sure that Coloradans know that they are never alone when facing the challenge of rebuilding after a fire.”

The Disaster Resilience Rebuilding Program aims to help close gaps from other funds offered for the rebuilding of owner-occupied homes affected by natural disasters across Colorado, according to a release from the Polis administration. Applicants may apply for grants and loans up to $50,000 depending on qualifying factors.

"Coloradans displaced by the Marshall fire, East Troublesome fire and other wildfire disasters are not alone, the state is stepping up to help Coloradans rebuild and protect our communities from destructive wildfires," said Rep. Judy Amabile, who sponsored the bill with Senate President Steve Fenberg.

The program aims to support rebuilding safer, energy efficient structures that can better withstand future natural disasters, like funds for fire resistant building materials.

Eligible applicants for the first phase of funding include people who owned a disaster-damaged home as their primary residence at the time of a state-declared disaster.

Those nine state-declared disasters include the 2022 Marshall fire and straight-line winds in Boulder County; the 2020 Calwood fire in Boulder County; 2021 Muddy Slide fire in Routt County; 2020’s East Troublesome fire and Cameron Peak fire in Grand and Larimer counties; 2019 avalanche debris and flooding risk in Hinsdale County; and 2018’s Lake Christine fire, Chateau fire and Spring Creek fire in Eagle, Teller, Costilla and Huerfano counties.

The application will be available in August or early September, according to the release. Staff are developing a single application and single, comprehensive list of background documents necessary to apply for the funds as well as other funds that may be available.

To get started, Coloradans can begin by compiling the following:

• Government issued identification, proof of ownership of the property current and back to the date of the state declared disaster (e.g., title and/or property tax record)
• Proof of residency in the property on the date of the state declared disaster (e.g., utility bills). Proof of income for adults in the home (e.g., pay stubs, bank statements showing pay deposits, social security/disability/retirement fund statements, or self-owned business account statements)
• Home/hazard Insurance claim/disbursement letter/check
• (If a federally declared disaster) FEMA award/denial letter and disbursement statement
• (If a federally declared disaster, and applicable) SBA award/denial letter and disbursement statement
• Documentation of any other loans/grants/gifts received as financial assistance for rebuilding of the home
• Documentation of rebuilding or repair cost estimates received from contractors

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Boulder County Recovery Navigators site and the Disaster Resilience Rebuilding site to find all details regarding qualifications, determining factors, applicable fund uses and required information.

The new law also established the Office of Climate Preparedness, dedicating attention and coordination across the state government to climate adaptation and disaster recovery needs. This office will add capacity to support recovery efforts and lead to the development of a statewide climate preparedness roadmap, the release said.

The office will also implement the recommendation of the Colorado Fire Commission to coordinate year-round resource mobilization and dispatching.