WASHINGTON, D.C. - Lawmakers on Thursday asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expand a presidential disaster declaration to include housing support and small-business disaster loans for victims of wildfires in Larimer County.

Colorado's congressional delegation wrote to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate requesting that he make economic-injury loans and other kinds of Small Business Administration disaster loans available to small businesses in Larimer and El Paso counties.

"Adding individual assistance to the declaration will automatically make homes and businesses in affected counties eligible for these funding streams and provide new housing assistance to families who are now homeless," the letter reads.

In June, President Obama declared the High Park and Waldo Canyon fires as major federal disaster areas. Obama's declaration followed a request from Gov. John Hickenlooper and a letter from the congressional delegation.

Obama's declaration makes available a number of federal programs, and FEMA determines the kinds of assistance available through a damage assessment.