Essential Guide to House Fire Victim Assistance: Steps, Support & Resources
In 2025, the U.S. government continues to provide comprehensive assistance for communities and individuals affected by wildfires. Federal agencies, state governments, and non-profit organizations collaborate to offer support in response, recovery, and prevention efforts. Below are key components of this assistance:
Immediate Disaster Response：Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Individual Assistance (IA) Grants:
Temporary housing and home repair assistance.
Replacement of essential personal property.
Medical and mental health support not covered by insurance.
Public Assistance (PA):
Support for local and state governments to repair infrastructure.
Aid for emergency protective measures, such as fire suppression.
Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)
These centers provide in-person guidance for survivors to access federal aid, including applying for grants and loans.
FEMA assistance can help jumpstart recovery
Individuals and families in designated areas may be eligible for funds to purchase essentials such as food, water, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, medications, and other emergency items.
Eligible survivors can also receive funds to help with housing issues if they are unable to return to their homes due to the fires. The money can be used to stay in a hotel, stay with family and friends, or other options until they find a more permanent housing solution.
In addition, eligible survivors can receive assistance with rental assistance, basic repairs to primary residences, personal property losses, and other eligible expenses related to the wildfires.
How to Apply for FEMA Assistance
After filing a claim with your insurance company, the first step residents can take is to apply for FEMA assistance to begin recovery. There are three ways to apply:
Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov . Applying online is the easiest, quickest, and most convenient way to apply if you have internet access and your electronic devices have power.
On the FEMA app for mobile devices .
Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. Calls are answered daily from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. PST. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay (VRS), captioned phone, or other service, provide FEMA with the number for that service. To watch an accessible video on how to apply, visit: FEMA Accessibility: Registering for Personal Assistance - YouTube.
Financial Aid and Loans
Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans
Homeowners and Renters:
Low-interest loans to repair or replace damaged property.
Small Businesses:
Loans to repair facilities or cover economic losses due to fire disruptions.
Tax Relief
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may offer:
Extended deadlines for filing and payment.
Tax deductions for disaster-related losses.
Long-Term Recovery and Rebuilding
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR):
Funding for rebuilding homes, infrastructure, and community resources.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
Rehabilitation of wildfire-damaged federal lands.
Grants for fire prevention and land management initiatives to reduce future wildfire risks.
Environmental and Public Health Support
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Monitoring air and water quality in wildfire-affected regions.
Providing safety guidelines for residents to mitigate health risks from smoke and ash.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Resources on respiratory health and mental health support for affected individuals.
Federal Assistance
Federal disaster assistance provides assistance to fire victims
President Biden recently approved a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration, freeing up federal resources to provide assistance to fire victims in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Eligible residents and business owners can apply for:
Temporary housing and home repair grants
Low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses
Other recovery programs to support disaster recovery efforts
How to apply:
Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
Call 800-621-FEMA (3362)
Use the FEMA app
Tax relief for fire victims
Los Angeles County taxpayers impacted by wildfires must file their 2024 California tax return and pay their tax bill by October 15, 2025. Extensions are available for individuals, businesses and tax-exempt organizations, consistent with the federal extension. For more information, visit the California Franchise Tax Board’s Disaster Relief page.
Temporary Housing Assistance through Airbnb
Airbnb.org is working with local organizations to provide free temporary housing to individuals and families displaced by wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The program connects people in need with hosts who are offering their properties as emergency lodging.
How to Apply for Assistance:
Visit the Airbnb Disaster Response page to learn more and apply for temporary housing.
Contact Airbnb's customer service for guidance on available options.
State Resource Center
The state has created a centralized online center with information and resources for fire victims, including links to state and local programs. Visit CA.gov/LAfires for the latest information on recovery efforts, assistance programs, and more.
American Red Cross Fire Rescue
More than 200 American Red Cross workers are helping Southern California residents fleeing massive, fast-moving wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes large and small. The Red Cross is committed to ensuring everyone has safe shelter and that no one faces this heartbreaking crisis alone.
At shelters, disaster health volunteers are caring for minor injuries and replacing items like glasses and medications, while mental health volunteers are providing comfort to those affected. In addition, the organization is mobilizing hundreds of disaster workers to support wildfire victims and delivering trucks with supplies like cots, blankets and water to support thousands of people in emergency shelters if necessary.
Where to Find Help
Anyone in need of safe shelter can find shelters at redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency App or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). Search for "American Red Cross" in the App Store or visit redcross.org/apps. You can also follow your local Red Cross or emergency officials on social media, sign up for free local government alerts or follow local news. The Red Cross encourages anyone who needs assistance to visit a shelter, and you don't have to stay overnight to get help.
Red Cross shelters are open to everyone in need, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability or citizenship. All disaster assistance is free. People are not required to show any identification to enter a shelter - just their name and where they lived before the disaster.