U.S. President Joe Biden has announced a one-time federal aid payment of $770 for victims of the devastating Los Angeles County wildfires, which have claimed 29 lives. The federal government will also cover 100% of disaster response costs for the next six months.

Biden stated nearly $5.1 million in immediate aid has been distributed to about 6,000 survivors, and over 33,000 residents have registered for assistance through DisasterAssistance.gov or FEMA’s helpline.

The fires, among the worst in California’s history, have caused damages estimated between $250 billion and $275 billion, surpassing previous disasters such as Hurricane Helene in 2024 and the Maui fires of 2023.