President Joe Biden said he expects the death toll from the fires to increase.
“It will increase, whether significantly or not, we don’t know yet. There’s still a lot of people around, accounting for,” Biden said.
A partly melted car sits near burned-out homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2025.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
The president said the White House is coordinating with the incoming Trump administration on the federal response.
“Everything they know, every single thing we’re doing about the report, the response. My hope is that they’ll have — at least acknowledge we have some significant experience in this, we’ve done really well on it. I’m praying that they continue the focus,” he said.
In this aerial view taken from a helicopter, burned homes are seen from above during the Palisades fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 9, 2025.
Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
Biden said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has activated its critical needs assistance, which provides a one-time payment of $750 to survivors so they can quickly purchase critical items like water, formula, gas and prescription drugs.
“This is not going to be over, even when all the fires are out,” Biden warned.
In this aerial view taken from a helicopter, homes burned from the Palisade fire smolder near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 9, 2025.
Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
“We’re going to need the United States Congress to follow up with appropriations to help provide for significant help,” Biden said.
The president and Vice President Kamala Harris praised the work of first responders and Harris noted the moments of optimism amid the devastation.
“People looking out for each other, regardless of where they come from or who they voted for, they’re looking out for each other and showing the best of the American spirit in a moment of crisis,” Harris said.
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart, Kelsey Walsh and Molly Nagle
