People who have lost their jobs because of wildfire evacuations may be eligible for unemployment benefits, the state Department of Labor and Employment said Wednesday.

Jobless evacuees or those whose workplace has been affected by a wildfire can file claims online, the labor department said.

People may be eligible for aid if their unemployment resulted from damage or destruction of the workplace or inaccessibility to a worksite due to its closure by authorities.

In addition, people who have received unemployment benefits while living in a burn area will receive a waiver from their requirement to seek work beginning the week the fire started in their area.

As usual, people must continue requesting payment of unemployment benefits.

Some people affected by the fires may have received Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which are benefit payments that are beyond the initial 26 weeks.

Normally, people must complete a series of re-employment services within six weeks to remain eligible for those federal benefits. However, the labor department has extended the amount of time during which those claimants must complete the services.

The Division of Unemployment Insurance will verify that people's addresses are in burn or evacuation areas, which include the ZIP codes of 80512, 80526, 80535, 80536, 80538, 80809, 80819, 80840, 80904, 80907, 80919 and 80921.

The labor department asks people to visit www.colorado.gov/cdle to file a claim.