Trump Administration Approves CA Wildfire Relief After Earlier Denial

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that President Trump approved California's major disaster declaration request after initially denying it. This decision came after a phone call between the two leaders. The approval will provide financial relief for state firefighting and emergency response costs. Initially, Trump sided with FEMA, which believed California could manage the damage independently. However, state officials warned of the urgency to clean up fire debris to prevent further environmental damage. This year, fires in California have burned over 4 million acres and resulted in 31 fatalities.

What are the potential consequences of leaving fire debris uncleaned?

How many acres have been burned and how many people have died this year due to fires in California?