Bipartisan statement urges President Biden for help with wildfire response

August 24, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democratic Congressman Jared Huffman and Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa have sent a bipartisan letter to President Joe Biden to issue a major disaster declaration due to the growing wildfires within the state.

Read the full press release from the representatives below:

Today, Congressmen Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting a major disaster declaration in response to multiple wildfires burning through their districts.

“Along with the Dixie Fire that has burned 726,000 acres and claimed the town of Greenville in Plumas County, the Antelope, McFarland, Monument, and River Fires are still burning, prompting the evacuation of entire towns. Some 13,000 firefighters and first responders are trying heroically to limit the continuing damage. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Lassen, Trinity, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, and Tehama counties. The severity of these ongoing disasters requires federal assistance as soon as possible and cannot wait for the assessments often required for federal individual and public assistance,” the members wrote in the letter.

The President can declare a major disaster for any natural event that the President determines has caused damage of such severity that it is beyond the combined capabilities of state and local governments to respond. A major disaster declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and local government, including funds for both emergency and permanent work.

A full copy of the letter can be viewed here or below:

President Joseph R. Biden

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

We write to request your full and fair consideration of the State of California’s request for a major disaster declaration in response to several massive wildfires in recent weeks. Eight counties have seen severe damage from wind-driven wildfires – including the largest single fire in California history – which have burned more than 1.7 million acres and destroyed at least 1,000 homes.

Along with the Dixie Fire that has burned 726,000 acres and claimed the town of Greenville in Plumas County, the Antelope, McFarland, Monument, and River Fires are still burning, prompting the evacuation of entire towns. Some 13,000 firefighters and first responders are trying heroically to limit the continuing damage. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Lassen, Trinity, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, and Tehama counties. The severity of these ongoing disasters requires federal assistance as soon as possible and cannot wait for the assessments often required for federal individual and public assistance.

We ask that you issue a major disaster declaration and thank you for considering California’s request for federal assistance needed to respond to 2021’s historic wildfires.

Sincerely,

[Members of Congress]


By:  CARLOS HOLGUIN
Source: KRCR