California blazes exceed firefighting capacity, prompting FEMA to increase funding for firefighters.

California will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for expenses related to hiring additional firefighters and managing the wildfires that have ravaged Southern California.

On Tuesday, news of the Fire Management Assistance Grants began to surface, and by the evening, the White House released a statement from President Biden confirming the move. On Wednesday, FEMA announced the measures and provided some details about the grants.

The state of California will receive federal reimbursements for up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs incurred in fighting the wildfires that have killed at least two people and driven thousands from their homes. Eligible costs include expenses for field camps, equipment, materials, supplies, and mobilization or demobilization efforts attributed to fighting the fires.

"Biden announced on Tuesday that his Administration will do everything possible to support the response to the wildfires in west Los Angeles. He stated that he is frequently briefed on the situation and is in touch with state and local officials. Biden has offered any federal assistance needed to help suppress the Pacific Palisades fire."

The Los Angeles Fire Department has been facing firefighter shortages in California for several years. In preparation for the news about FEMA's grant, the department requested all off-duty firefighters in the area to volunteer to help. Meanwhile, the U.S. Forest Service has increased its staffing levels in California for the first time in five years, but the total number of federal wildland firefighters remains significantly reduced from what it used to be, despite the state experiencing an increase in the number and severity of wildfires in recent years, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

In October, the U.S. Forest Service ended prescribed burning to manage wildfires due to staffing shortages.

The Biden administration opposed a bipartisan bill aimed at simplifying the process for implementing forest management projects, including prescribed burns, in California due to concerns that certain provisions would harm environmental protections. As a result, California ended prescribed burns.

The state of California requested FEMA's grants to enhance its firefighting capabilities during the ongoing wildfires that had scorched over 700 acres of private and public lands in the Pacific Palisades, San Fernando Valley, and Santa Calrita Valley areas.

Over 45,000 homes in the region are at risk from the ongoing fire, according to FEMA.

The agency's regional office is in touch with local authorities in California and has deployed a FEMA liaison officer to monitor the situation. The spokesperson advised residents to follow local officials' instructions and provided a phone number for them to text if they need safe shelter.