California wildfire victims are applying for a one-time $770 payment from the federal government to buy basic items.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program is designed to cover the cost of essential items like water, formula, gasoline and prescription drugs.
The death toll has risen to 27 and over 15,000 acres were scorched by wildfires that began on January 4 and continue to rage across Southern California.
Ring camera footage shows how rapidly the wildfires spread to neighborhoods. Strong winds carried burning embers for miles.
Ring camera footage of the Eaton Fire as it ravaged entire neighborhoods. This gives you a good view of how easily and rapidly the fire spread. Embers travel far out from the main fire, causing exponential spread.
? from 205Fire on IG pic.twitter.com/WmUSZIGd0e
— Hurricane Journal (@hurricanejrnl) January 17, 2025
Those impacted by the wildfires may receive assistance from more than one FEMA program, an agency spokesperson told USA TODAY on Tuesday.
Over 35,000 victims have applied for the one-time FEMA payments. President Joe Biden said over $5 million in payments have gone out already.
“And I want to be clear: We’re not waiting until those fires are over to be — to start helping the victims. We’re getting them help right now, as you all know,” Biden said. “So far, nearly 6,000 survivors have registered to do just that and $5.1 million has gone out.”
The one-time payment announcement came a week after Biden said the federal government will cover 100% of the costs of California’s efforts to fight the wildfires for 180 days, including paying for the removal of wildfire debris for six months, but FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell warned cleanup will take longer.
