Fourmile Canyon Fire

The Fourmile Canyon fire west of Boulder so far has resulted in $217 million in insurance claims, making it the costliest wildfire in Colorado history in terms of insured damage, the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association said Monday.

Separately, Gov. Bill Ritter said Monday he has asked the U.S. Small Business Administration for emergency low-cost loans for businesses and homeowners who were affected by the fire.

Gov. Bill Ritter will return to the Fourmile Canyon Fire area west of Boulder today to get an update on ongoing firefighting efforts, even as winds are expected to pick up again this afternoon.

On Thursday, Ritter allocated another $200,000 in state funds to help cover firefighting costs in the most destructive wildfire (in terms of property) in Colorado history. After touring the fire zone Tuesday, Ritter declared a state of emergency and authorized $5 million in state aid.

Today at 11 a.m. Ritter will meet with incident commanders for a fire briefing and to thank firefighters battling the blaze that started on Monday and has destroyed 169 homes in the Boulder County foothills west of town.

Also, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday, four residents remain unaccounted for.

At its largest, the fire was reported at 7,120 acres Tuesday; estimates of its size fluctuated throughout Wednesday. As of Wednesday evening, officials estimated the fire had burned about 6,300 acres.

The Hayman Fire — the largest wildfire in Colorado history — scorched more than 138,000 acres southwest of Denver, burned 133 homes and 466 outbuildings.