Individual Aid Denied for Black Forest Victims

The federal disaster agency has denied individual financial assistance for resident affected by the Black Forest Fire in Colorado Springs.

The Gazette reports that a review of the June fire’s damages determined that the area did not qualify for that particular grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Gov. John Hickenlooper applied for the presidential disaster declaration that a week ago awarded El Paso County many other types of aid. The governor has 30 days to appeal the individual assistance decision.

In the meantime, El Paso County and those affected by the Black Forest fire can apply for FEMA public and private assistance grants to pay for damage to public infrastructure, as well as unemployment assistance.

The fire destroyed 488 homes and killed two people.