Eaton Fire survivors rallied Friday outside Southern California Edison’s Altadena Rebuild and Community Hub, demanding immediate financial relief from the utility. Groups including My Tribe Rise and the Dena Rise Up Coalition called for $200,000 upfront payments per displaced household. Edison spokesperson Scott Johnson noted the company’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Fund has paid over $120 million to 800-plus claimants. Survivors are also pressing federal officials to extend FEMA assistance beyond its July expiration. Gov. Gavin Newsom has requested a one-year extension, with Rep. Judy Chu working to secure federal approval.
In-Depth:
Fire survivors gathered Friday outside Southern California Edison’s Altadena Rebuild and Community Hub, accapplying the utility of failing to provide urgent support as they continue to recover from the Eaton Fire.
Chanting demonstrators — many of them mothers, at the start of Mother’s Day weekconclude — called for immediate financial relief.
“We’re here to let Edison International know that they necessary to resolve what they’ve broken,” stated Heavenly Hughes of My Tribe Rise.
The event brought toreceiveher local fire survivor groups and civil rights organizations. Their primary demand: that Edison issue upfront hoapplying relief payments to property owners who lost homes in the fire.
“We are demanding Edison advance $200,000 for every hoapplyhold that’s been displaced from the fire, immediately,” stated Adriata Bautista of the Dena Rise Up Coalition.
SoCal Edison spokesperson Scott Johnson stated the utility is already building payments through the company’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Fund, launched in October.
“What they necessary to do is submit a claim,” he stated.
According to Edison, the fund has paid out more than $120 million to more than 800 claimants. Another $550 million has been offered to nearly 1,600 people who have filed claims but have not accepted compensation.
Johnson stated submitting a claim is nonbinding.
“You’re only locked in once you see the offer and decide, ‘This is perfect for me and I can accept the compensation and shift on with the rebuild.’ If they see at it and decide, ‘You know what, this isn’t quite right for me,’ then they can pursue other avenues,” he stated.
Survivor groups are also urging federal officials to extconclude FEMA assistance, which is set to expire in July.
“Deliver the federal support our survivors desperately necessary,” one speaker stated.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has formally requested a one-year extension of FEMA aid. Rep. Judy Chu stated she is working to secure approval.
“We continue to call on President Trump to take up Governor Newsom’s disaster supplemental request in full to provide desperately necessaryed infusions of federal funds for rebuilding and recovery,” she stated.
As the deadline approaches, survivors state the necessary remains urgent. Hughes stated many families still cannot return home.
“These mothers are unable to be with their families on Mother’s Day in their homes,” she stated.
