United States President Joe Biden said that he instructed California Governor Gavin Newsom and local officials to "spare no expense" to contain the Los Angeles fires.
He announced that the federal government would cover 100% of the cost of the disaster response to the wildfires for 180 days, an increase prompted by Newsom's request for more funding. "It's going to pay for things like debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters, first responders salaries, and all necessary measures to protect life and property," Biden said during a briefing.
Vice President Kamala Harris, sitting next to Biden, praised firefighters and local leaders while also calling attention to the financial burden of those affected by the fires. "Sadly, many insurance companies have canceled insurance for a lot of the families who have been affected and will be affected, which is only going to delay or place added burden on their ability to recover," she stressed.
