Colorado Paying out Money to Claimants From Wildfire

Some victims of the deadly Lower North Fork Fire in Jefferson County last year will soon receive checks from the state.

KUSA-TV in Denver reports Colorado is paying out nearly $2.8 million this week to victims.

The State Claims Board and the Legislature had approved payments to 11 claimants this spring, but recipients had to wait until after the budget year began July 1 to receive them.

Claimants are getting amounts ranging from $70,000 to $768,910. The largest sum goes to the Intermountain Rural Electric Association and will be paid over two years.

Claims for 45 properties remain unresolved.

The wildfire grew from a prescribed burn on state land that grew out of control in strong gusts. It destroyed or damaged 23 homes and left three people dead.