NEWS stories


Rebuild, Government Efram Potelle Rebuild, Government Efram Potelle

California homeowners could qualify for grants for new roofs and fire safety

Some homeowners in areas of California with high wildfire risk could eventually get money for new roofs or to build fire-resistant zones around their properties under a new state law that went into effect Friday.

The Safe Homes grant program is designed to help low- and middle-income homeowners with fire mitigation. People who qualify could use grants to create 5-foot ember-resistant zones around properties, also known as Zone Zero, as required by law in some areas. The program will also contribute toward costs for fire-safe roofs.

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Contamination, Residents in Need, Government Efram Potelle Contamination, Residents in Need, Government Efram Potelle

L.A. fire cleanups reports describe repeated violations, illegal dumping allegation

  • Federal oversight reports allege that the main contractor hired to clean up the Eaton and Palisades fires may have illegally dumped toxic ash, reused contaminated soil and cut corners.

  • Inspectors documented crews moving fire debris onto neighboring properties, burying ash and burned materials to avoid full removal, re-contaminating “cleared” lots and spraying polluted water into storm drains.

  • Despite warnings about lead and other toxins, FEMA refused to fund post-fire soil testing. State agencies are noncommittal about how they will handle such testing in the future.

The primary federal contractor entrusted with purging fire debris from the Eaton and Palisades fires may have illegally dumped toxic ash and misused contaminated soil in breach of state policy, according to federal government reports recently obtained by The Times.

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Fire Response, Government Efram Potelle Fire Response, Government Efram Potelle

Newsom, seeking federal funds for L.A. wildfire recovery, is denied meeting with key Trump officials

  • Gov. Gavin Newsom was on Capitol Hill on Friday renewing calls for $33.9 billion in federal aid for Los Angeles fire recovery.

  • FEMA denied Newsom’s meeting request, underscoring political tensions surrounding California’s disaster recovery appeal following the January fires.

  • The governor criticized the Trump administration for stalling on a recovery proposal, despite bipartisan congressional support for long-term funding

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