The aid may include federal grants for temporary housing and repairs, and loans to cover uninsured properties, according to a statement by the White House.

The White House also noted that federal funding is available for “hazard mitigation measures statewide” along with money for state government, some local government and private nonprofit doing emergency work in Boulder County.

The disaster declaration approval comes days after wildfires ripped through suburbs northwest of Denver, forcing hundreds of evacuations just before the new year. Officials said seven people have been injured. No deaths have been reported, according to the Associated Press (AP).

The AP noted that the area had not received much snow so far this winter and that the fall had been especially dry, adding that Boulder County had not received significant rainfall since mid-summer. Authorities are still determining the cause of the fire, which comes at an unusual time late in the year.

Officials estimate that more than 500 homes have likely been ravaged, adding that number could go up to 1,000.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) said he visited the affected areas on Friday and posted on Twitter ¨This is a tragedy and the emergency is not over.¨

mh/pll/mem/age