Fire aid

On January 7, 2025 more than 16,000 structures including homes, apartments and businesses were destroyed by California fires. As of March 2, 2026, of the 6,571 homes destroyed in the Palisades County, a total of 13 have been rebuilt, one in the Palisades and 12 in Eaton. One of the problems is the lack of control perhaps by design. Here is one example. The $100 million raised during the FireAid benefit concerts held in Jan 2025 did not go to fire victims as promised but to non-profits who then decide where the money goes. Much of the $2 billion in federal aid from FEMA is also doled out by local non-profits. This money has a way of falling through the bureaucratic cracks.