US President Joe Biden on Saturday approved a major disaster declaration for Colorado in response to a wildfire that has now destroyed more than 500 buildings. 

Declaring the fire a major disaster, Biden ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas affected. 

“The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Boulder County. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster,” the White House’s press release read. 

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It added that the funding is also available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organisations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the Boulder County.

Authorities had said earlier no one was missing in the area hit by Thursday’s blaze, but Boulder County spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill said Saturday they were now trying to find two people who were later reported as unaccounted for after sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and other officials located hundreds of people who initially were reported missing. She declined to provide details on the two, where they were last seen, or efforts to find them, and attributed the error to confusion inherent when agencies are scrambling to manage an emergency.

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At least seven people were injured in the wildfire that erupted in and around Louisville and Superior, neighboring towns about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Denver with a combined population of 34,000. The blaze, which burned at least 9.4 square miles (24 square kilometers), was no longer considered an immediate threat.

Boulder County sheriff Joe Pelle said that at least 500 buildings were destroyed. “I would not be surprised if it’s 1,000,” he said on Friday. 

With inputs from the Associated Press