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Trump administration approves California’s request for wildfire relief funds

Char'Nese Turner, Sydney Kalich, and KGET Staff

CALIFORNIA (NewsNation Now) — President Donald Trump’s administration approved California’s request for a major disaster declaration for wildfires. Governor Gavin Newsom shared the update Friday.

Trump initially rejected California’s request on Thursday.


“Just got off the phone with @realDonaldTrump who has approved our Major Disaster Declaration request,” tweeted Gov. Newsom.

The California Office of Emergency Services said the federal government approved the request for the following fires:

“We believe we have a strong case that California’s request meets the federal requirements for approval,” a Cal OES official said.

Cal OES said it continues to pursue other avenues for reimbursement and support for wildfire victims.

This was the second of two major disaster declarations California requested within about a month. The president approved the first.

Gov. Gavin Newsom formally submitted a letter to the White House on Sept. 28 asking for a major disaster declaration, said Brian Ferguson, with the governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

Ferguson could not provide a reason for the federal government’s denial.

A major disaster declaration allows for cost-sharing for damage, cleanup and rebuilding between the state and federal governments. It also activates relief programs led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Five of some of the state’s largest wildfires in modern history have burned within the last couple of months.

FILE – In this Sept. 27, 2020 file photo the Glass Fire burns a hillside above Silverado Trail in St. Helena, Calif. Dry, windy weather posed an extreme wildfire risk Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, in Northern California, where massive blazes already have cost hundreds of homes and killed or injured dozens of people. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)
CALISTOGA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 01: A Contra Costa County fire truck moves by burning building materials while battling the Glass Fire on October 01, 2020 in Calistoga, California. The fast moving Glass Incident Fire, originally called the Glass Fire, has burned 56,000 acres in Sonoma and Napa counties and has destroyed numerous wineries and structures. The fire is five percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
CALISTOGA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 01: A firefighter walks by a burning wood pile while battling the Glass Fire on October 01, 2020 in Calistoga, California. The fast moving Glass Incident Fire, originally called the Glass Fire, has burned 56,000 acres in Sonoma and Napa counties and has destroyed numerous wineries and structures. The fire is five percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
CALISTOGA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 01: The wheels of a truck burn as the Glass Fire moves through the area on October 01, 2020 in Calistoga, California. The fast moving Glass Incident Fire, originally called the Glass Fire, has burned 56,000 acres in Sonoma and Napa counties and has destroyed numerous wineries and structures. The fire is five percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
FILE – In this Oct. 1, 2020, file photo, a firefighter runs past flames while battling the Glass Fire in a Calistoga, Calif., vineyard. Cool weather and light drizzle in some places provided relief for firefighters working to increase containment of numerous wildfires across California on Saturday, Oct. 10, but the forecast for dry and warming conditions starting on Sunday signaled that the state’s lethal fire season is far from over. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)
FILE – In this Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, file photo, Flames from the Glass Fire consume the Black Rock Inn in St. Helena, Calif. Deadly wildfires in California have burned more than 4 million acres (6,250 square miles) this year, a new record for the most acres burned in a single year. California fire officials said the state hit the fearsome milestone Sunday, Oct. 4, with about two months still left in the fire season. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)
Flames from the Glass Fire burn a truck in a Calistoga, Calif., vineyard Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
FILE – In this Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, file photo, Firefighters protect a home in the Berryessa Estates neighborhood of unincorporated Napa County, Calif., as the LNU Lightning Complex fires burn. Deadly wildfires in California have burned more than 4 million acres (6,250 square miles) this year, a new record for the most acres burned in a single year. California fire officials said the state hit the fearsome milestone Sunday, Oct. 4, with about two months still left in the fire season. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)
Smoke from the Glass Fire hangs heavy over a vineyard outside of Calistoga in Napa Valley, California on September 30, 2020. – Two California wildfires that ravaged Napa’s famous wine region and killed three people exploded in size Tuesday as firefighters faced a weeks-long battle to contain the blazes. (Photo by Samuel Corum / AFP) (Photo by SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty Images)
The remains of golf carts burned by the Glass Fire sits next to a vineyard at Calistoga Ranch in Calistoga, Napa Valley, California on September 30, 2020. – Two California wildfires that ravaged Napa’s famous wine region and killed three people exploded in size Tuesday as firefighters faced a weeks-long battle to contain the blazes. (Photo by Samuel Corum / AFP) (Photo by SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty Images)
The rubble that was once the main building at Calistoga Ranch is pictured after the Glass Fire passed through in Napa Valley, California on September 30, 2020. – Two California wildfires that ravaged Napa’s famous wine region and killed three people exploded in size Tuesday as firefighters faced a weeks-long battle to contain the blazes. (Photo by Samuel Corum / AFP) (Photo by SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty Images)
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The Associated Press and NewsNation affiliates KRON and KGET contributed to this report.