President Joe Biden visits Colorado fire zone, meets with first responders
More than 1,000 homes destroyed in Marshall Fire
Biden arrives in Colorado to survey devastating fire damage
The president is expected to tour Marshall Fire damage after declaring the event as a major disaster.
LOUISVILLE, Colo. – President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited Colorado on Friday to see the destruction caused by a December grassland fire that destroyed more than 1,000 homes.
High winds and dry conditions allowed a grassfire near Marshall Road in Superior, Colorado to rapidly spread on Dec. 30, quickly overtaking communities, prompting more than 30,000 to evacuate.
While Colorado has experienced some of the largest wildfires in its history in the last few years, the Marshall Fire happened in an urban and suburban community.
BOULDER FIRE FUELED BY 100 MPH WINDS A FIREFIGHTER'S WORST FEARS
About 2,000 homes in the communities of Superior and Louisville are in the burned area, but Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said due to the fire's chaotic movements, not all of those homes were lost.
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Image 1 of 5An Xcel Energy worker surveys the damage to a home that was burned to the ground in the Coal Creek Ranch subdivision in the aftermath of the Marshall Fire on December 31, 2021 in Louisville, Colorado. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 2 of 5Berthoud Fire Department firefighter Alec Huggins walks back to his engine in the heavy snow as he and his team wait to be demobilized off of the Marshall Fire at the staging at the Louisville Recreation Center on December 31, 2021 in Louisville, Colorado. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 3 of 5BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 4 of 5Flames engulf homes as the Marshall Fire spreads through a neighborhood in the town of Superior in Boulder County, Colorado on December 30, 2021. (Photo by Jason Connolly / AFP) (Photo by JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 5 of 5LOUISVILLE, CO - DECEMBER 31: Burned houses in the aftermath of the Marshall Fire on December 31, 2021 in Louisville, Colorado. The fire may have potentially burned 1000 homes and numerous business. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
Snowfall the day after the blaze helped contain the remaining hotspots. Officials said the Marshall Fire scorched 6,000 acres.
According to Boulder County emergency management officials, 1,084 homes destroyed by the fire and residential property damage was estimated to be at least $513 million.
PHOTOS: CHARRED AFTERMATH AS FIRES SWEEP THROUGH COLORADO NEIGHBORHOODS
President Biden and the First Lady spoke with the first responders and victims, some of whom lost their homes and their pets in the firestorm.
First Lady on Colorado fires: 'Terribly sorry' for your losses
Jill Biden speaks to the community of Louisville, Colorado after devastating fires destroyed homes and resulted in the loss of pets.
Teams are still working to verify additional damages caused by the wind event that allowed the fire to spread rapidly.
According to emergency managers, debris cleanup is underway and a priority for Boulder County. It becomes complicated when so many homes are part of the cleanup area, and people want to look for belongings that might have survived the fire.
"There were many homes destroyed and damaged, and we know this is not just debris. What remains is part of your home, possessions, and memories," Boulder County OEM wrote. "We empathize with you and understand that you are all anxious to take the first step to rebuild your homes."
The county is working with state, FEMA and local leaders to coordinate debris removal.