The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Friday that federal aid will be made available to Colorado to help cover the cost of damages caused by the state’s historic wildfire season. 

The aid comes after President Donald Trump approved the request from Gov. Jared Polis for a Major Disaster Declaration for the areas affected by the wildfires from Sept. 6 to Nov. 5, FEMA officials said. 

Cameron Peak Fire, state’s largest on record, fully contained

The funds will supplement state and local recovery efforts in Grand and Larimer counties and are available to local governments and approved nonprofits to assist in the recovery efforts.

During the summer of 2020, Colorado experienced the two largest wildfires in the state’s recorded history as well as many other large blazes. 

The Cameron Peak fire broke out on Aug. 13 near Cameron Pass and grew to a disastrous 208,913 acres, according to the fire incident information site. 

Nearly four months later and after 112 days of firefighting efforts, officials announced the flames had been 100% contained on Dec. 2.

The Cameron Peak fire resulted in a market loss of more than $6 million to structures. 

Cameron Peak Fire resulted in a market loss of more than $6 million

In Grand County, the East Troublesome fire started small on the afternoon of Oct. 14, just northeast of Kremmling, but a week later, the flames suddenly grew over 130,000 acres in 24 hours.

The fire spread to within a mile of Estes Park. It eventually was contained on Dec. 1, after burning 193,812 acres, the second most in the state’s history, according to the fires information page. 

Two people died in the fire and more than 300 homes and 100 secondary structures were destroyed. 

Officials: About 100 homes destroyed by East Troublesome fire, say total could rise

Jon Huss has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for the federal response operations for the two counties, but someone else could be designated his role depending on further damage assessment, according to the news release.