News

Feb 7, 2025

One month since LA firestorms: here are all the actions Governor Newsom has taken to support survivors

What you need to know: Governor Newsom has made the recovery for Los Angeles his top priority – directing a whole-of-government response to support communities and survivors.

LOS ANGELES – In the one month following the Los Angeles firestorms, Governor Gavin Newsom has directed an aggressive and coordinated whole-of-government response to support those impacted.

The Governor deployed resources before the fires broke out – growing to over 16,000 boots on the ground at the peak of the state's response. And in the hours that followed, Governor Newsom launched historic recovery and rebuilding efforts to help Los Angeles get back on its feet, faster.

Since the day these firestorms ignited, my Administration has been on the ground working to get survivors the support they need. Our goal is simple: a full recovery for the people of Los Angeles as fast as possible. We're working closely with communities and the federal government to rebuild Los Angeles faster and stronger.

Governor Gavin Newsom

By the numbers

Launched historic recovery and rebuilding efforts — faster than ever before

• Cutting red tape to help rebuild Los Angeles faster and stronger. Governor Newsom issued an executive order to streamline the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed — suspending permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act. The Governor also issued an executive order further cutting red tape by reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended for rebuilding efforts and directing the Coastal Commission not to issue guidance or take any action that interferes with or conflicts with the Governor's executive orders. The Governor also issued an executive order removing bureaucratic barriers, extending deadlines, and providing critical regulatory relief to help fire survivors rebuild, access essential services, and recover more quickly.
• Providing tax and mortgage relief to those impacted by the fires. California postponed the individual tax filing deadline to October 15 for Los Angeles County taxpayers. Additionally, the state extended the January 31, 2025, sales and use tax filing deadline for Los Angeles County taxpayers until April 30 — providing critical tax relief for businesses. Governor Newsom suspended penalties and interest on late property tax payments for a year, effectively extending the state property tax deadline. The Governor also worked with state– and federally-chartered banks that have committed to providing mortgage relief for survivors in certain zip codes.
• Fast-tracking temporary housing and protecting tenants. To help provide necessary shelter for those immediately impacted by the firestorms, the Governor issued an executive order to make it easier to streamline construction of accessory dwelling units, allow for more temporary trailers and other housing, and suspend fees for mobile home parks. Governor Newsom also issued an executive order that prohibits landlords in Los Angeles County from evicting tenants for sharing their rental with survivors displaced by the Los Angeles-area firestorms.
• Mobilizing debris removal and cleanup. With an eye toward recovery, the Governor directed fast action on debris removal work and mitigating the potential for mudslides and flooding in areas burned. He also signed an executive order to allow expert federal hazmat crews to start cleaning up properties as a key step in getting people back to their properties safely. The Governor also issued an executive order to help mitigate risk of mudslides and flooding and protect communities by hastening efforts to remove debris, bolster flood defenses, and stabilize hillsides in affected areas.
• Safeguarding survivors from price gouging. Governor Newsom expanded restrictions to protect survivors from illegal price hikes on rent, hotel and motel costs, and building materials or construction. Report violations to the Office of the Attorney General here.
• Directing immediate state relief. The Governor signed legislation providing over $2.5 billion to immediately support ongoing emergency response efforts and to jumpstart recovery efforts for Los Angeles. California quickly launched CA.gov/LAfires as a single hub of information and resources to support those impacted and bolsters in-person Disaster Recovery Centers. The Governor also launched LA Rises (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=3af5ea835f&e=0b26ba1b5c), a unified recovery initiative that brings together private sector leaders to support rebuilding efforts. Governor Newsom announced that individuals and families directly impacted by the recent fires living in certain zip codes may be eligible to receive Disaster CalFresh food benefits (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=2a8d45645f&e=0b26ba1b5c).
• Getting kids back in the classroom. Governor Newsom signed an executive order to quickly assist displaced students (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=8279e45925&e=0b26ba1b5c) in the Los Angeles area and bolster schools affected by the firestorms.
• Protecting victims from real estate speculators. The Governor issued an executive order to protect firestorm victims (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=e2fc694f94&e=0b26ba1b5c) from predatory land speculators making aggressive and unsolicited cash offers to purchase their property.
• Helping businesses and workers get back on their feet. The Governor issued an executive order to support small businesses and workers (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=ba410937b7&e=0b26ba1b5c), by providing relief to help businesses recover quickly by deferring annual licensing fees and waiving other requirements that may impose barriers to recovery.

Partnered with the federal government – across both administrations – to boost California's rapid response

• At the Governor's request, President Biden approved a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=ebe4349d30&e=0b26ba1b5c) to support ongoing response efforts. The Major Disaster Declaration has been expanded to support communities (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=01aece1fdf&e=0b26ba1b5c) with repairs or replacement of firestorm-damaged public facilities and infrastructure.
• In a cell phone call from the firestorm, Governor Newsom requested from President Biden additional federal assistance (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=9e9dd441ec&e=0b26ba1b5c) to cover 100% of California's fire management and debris removal costs for 180 days, up from the traditional 75%.
• Governor Newsom traveled to Washington, DC to meet with President Trump and members of Congress (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=686d780a98&e=0b26ba1b5c) — focusing on securing critical disaster aid for survivors and ensuring impacted families who lost their homes and livelihoods have the support they need to rebuild and recover.

Deployed unprecedented firefighting and first responder force – including early pre-positioning before the fire

• At the peak of the state's response, Governor Newsom deployed over 16,000 personnel, including firefighters, California National Guard service members, highway patrol officers and transportation teams. These efforts are supported by the biggest state investment (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=a7a84d3722&e=0b26ba1b5c) in fire response in history — nearly doubled since the beginning of the administration. Response efforts include more than 2,000 pieces of firefighting equipment, including 1,490+ engines, 80+ aircraft, 200+ dozers and 210+ water tenders to aid in putting out the fires. The Governor deployed a surge of California Highway Patrol (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=db5e7a4ea4&e=0b26ba1b5c) Special Response Teams to provide ongoing law enforcement capacity to further protect fire damaged communities in Los Angeles.
• Governor Newsom ordered the activation of more than 2,500 California National Guard service members to augment firefighting operations (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=2fabfb922b&e=0b26ba1b5c) and support local law enforcement to protect communities from looting (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=47bfb8ba6d&e=0b26ba1b5c). The Governor's National Guard activation started with his emergency proclamation on Tuesday, January 7 with over 600 service members deployed (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=749ce6a6ba&e=0b26ba1b5c). The Governor doubled the number of those deployed (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=b3962203e6&e=0b26ba1b5c) on January 11, and increased that by 1,000 (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=316dcf2577&e=0b26ba1b5c) the next day to a total of 2,500. Also strengthening public safety efforts, the Governor signed an executive order directing state agencies to support local law enforcement partners (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=149c2f14f4&e=0b26ba1b5c) as they lift evacuation orders.  

Find the Governor's actions by day here (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=eb3008a2c9&e=0b26ba1b5c).

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