LA Supervisors OK Letter Seeking Further Wildfire Recovery Funds

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved an official letter to be sent to President Donald Trump, Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state and federal agencies seeking funding for wildfire recovery to be directly allocated to local agencies.

The county CEO was also tasked with collaborating with county departments in identifying budgetary requests to expedite recovery efforts in affected communities.

The devastating wildfires that broke out Jan. 7 have prompted local and state emergency declarations, with former President Joe Biden approving a Major Disaster Declaration and providing federal backing for firefighting efforts.

On Jan. 13, Newsom also proposed that California provide at least $2.5 billion in additional funding for ongoing emergency response efforts and to expedite recovery efforts. Tuesday’s motion also highlights Biden’s pledge to provide 100% federal backing for debris removal and emergency protective measures for six months.

“In response, Congress is currently considering a series of bills developed to address the 2025 Los Angeles County Fires disaster,” the motion reads. “The County’s voice must be present at the table in order for state and federal legislative efforts to be responsive and provide what our County needs in this time of crisis.”

The supervisors requested external funding to assist:

• Housing and financial relief for victims of the fire, including mortgage assistance through forbearance and low interest loans;
• Debris management and subsequent environmental rehabilitation;
• Support for affected businesses and workers;
• Wildfire prevention measures;
• Water, power and communications infrastructure; and
• Rebuilding efforts.

“We need to provide every tool we have to help people rebuild that includes embracing the governor’s executive order … to have tiny homes and trailers placed on property once it’s deemed safe, so people actually can be present in the community while the rebuilding takes place,” Board Chair Kathryn Barger said.

Barbara Ferrer, the county’s public health director, told the board Tuesday that the county is distributing masks, air purifiers, gloves and other emergency resources with an approach similar to the one used during the coronavirus pandemic. She said the county was working with local communities and schools to ensure local involvement and building from the ground up.

Public Works and Emergency Management officials said debris cleanup was in effect with county workers also putting preventive measures in place.

“We must be strategic and relentless in pursuing state and federal funding and support to quickly restore communities that burned,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said. “… We need full weight of state and federal partners to make resources and support available.”

Horvath stressed that the destruction was “unbelievable” with communities “leveled and not functional, potentially for a substantial period of time.”

Fellow Supervisor Holly Mitchell stressed that several low-wage workers, especially from hospitality and care-giving industries, were affected by the fires and county efforts needed streamlining to target impacted businesses, workers and residents, including undocumented residents.

Trump has been invited to personally tour the wildfire area by Newsom and Barger. The president said last weekend that he planned to travel to California this week to view the devastation.

“I’m going to go out there on Friday to see it and to get it moving back,” Trump said Sunday, according to Politico. “We’re going to get some of the best builders in the world. We’ll get it moving back.”