President Barack Obama declared the Royal Gorge fire zone a major disaster Friday and ordered federal aid to supplement the recovery efforts.
 
The declaration comes a month after the state's congressional delegation asked the president to declare Colorado a federal disaster area.
 
The disaster declaration makes federal funds available for individuals, the state, eligible local governments, and certain non-profit organizations in Fremont County, where the Royal Gorge fire burned from June 11-16 Jun 2013.
 
The fire charred about 3,220 acres and destroyed 48 of the 52 structures at the historic Royal Gorge Park, which is a major economic driver in Fremont County.
 
"We are grateful for the federal support in the wake of the Royal Gorge fire and other fires this summer," Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a written statement.
 
"This assistance will help Coloradans recover and begin to rebuild some of what was lost."
 
A preliminary assessment estimated the destruction in the Royal Gorge area at US$26.9 million, said Micki Trost, spokeswoman for the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
 
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park laid off 150 employees in June, and some other businesses in the area either hired fewer employees or laid some off due to a severe decrease in tourism, park spokeswoman Peggy Gair said.
 
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available for some people who lost jobs as a result of the fire in Fremont County, according to a White House news release.
 
"City and county governments will be getting together early next week," Cañon City Mayor Tony Greer said.
 
"We want that money into the hands of the people that need it as quickly and efficiently as possible."
 
Federal funding for emergency work and the repairs or replacement of damaged facilities in Fremont County also has been made available, the release said.
 
However, the state or local governments must provide a 25 percent match to access the money, Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jerry DeFelice said.
 
Local governments statewide also can apply to have 75 percent of the cost of hazard mitigation measures covered by FEMA, DeFelice said.
 
"The point of the mitigation fund is to minimize or protect against future disaster," DeFelice said.
 
"These eligible costs are always provided for uninsured losses or damages to public infrastructure."
 
In addition to the federal assistance, History Colorado, formerly known as the Colorado Historical Society, has offered Cañon City four grants totaling US$40,000 to stabilize three stone structures and the incline railway, State Historical Fund director Steve Turner said.
 
"Stabilization is really doing what you need to do to keep building until a more thorough restoration can be undertaken," Turner said.
 
"The purpose of the State Historical Fund is to help preserve Colorado's historical places. The Royal Gorge is one of those places."
 
Cañon City has not decided whether to accept the grants, Turner said.
 
In a joint statement released Friday, the Colorado congressional delegation said it is not done seeking federal aid for burn zones.
 
"We will continue to advocate for other areas of the state that have suffered similar devastation of wildfire, including the Black Forest region," the statement said.
 
Adrian D. Garcia.