In an effort to support those affected by the devastating California wildfires, President Joe Biden has announced $770 one-time payments for victims. The move comes as part of a broader federal effort to provide immediate relief while the fires continue to rage across the state.
“We’re not waiting until those fires are over to start helping the victims. We’re getting them help right now,” Biden said during a wildfire briefing at the White House on Monday.
“People impacted by these fires are going to receive a one-time payment of $770 so they can quickly purchase essentials like water, baby formula, and prescriptions.”
According to the president, nearly 6,000 wildfire survivors have already registered for the assistance program, with $5.1 million in aid disbursed so far. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) activated its Critical Needs Assistance Program last week, enabling the initial payments to be processed quickly.
In an update on containment efforts, Biden reported progress in key areas: 14% containment in Pacific Palisades, 33% in Pasadena, and full containment in Ventura. Additionally, the president reaffirmed his commitment to covering the costs of California’s wildfire response.
Last week, Biden announced that the federal government would fund 100% of the state’s firefighting efforts for the next 180 days, a period that will extend into President-elect Trump’s administration.
“It’s going to cost tens of billions of dollars to get Los Angeles to what it was,” Biden emphasized in a briefing with Vice President Kamala Harris and emergency officials. “We are going to need Congress to step up with the funding.”
The economic toll of the wildfires is staggering. According to AccuWeather, the total damage and losses are now estimated to be between $250 billion and $275 billion, surpassing the 2020 wildfire season’s damages and losses. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter highlighted the scale of destruction, noting that this year’s fires have also exceeded the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in 2024, which totaled between $225 billion and $250 billion. The wildfires have even eclipsed the financial impact of the deadly 2023 Maui fires, which were estimated at $13 billion to $16 billion.
