#Trump admin denies wildfire federal aid request from California

California’s request for federal aid to help with the destruction caused by several recent wildfires was reportedly denied by the Trump administration.

Gov. Gavin Newsom in a Sept. 28 letter sought a major presidential disaster declaration from the administration to help clean up and rebuild from six of the wildfires that have ravaged the state.

The Trump administration’s denial was handed down this week, Brian Ferguson, a spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom, confirmed to the Los Angeles Times.

Under the declaration Newsom asked for, the federal government would pay for part of the recovery expenses. Programs headed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency would also become available.

Newsom, in his aid request, did not ask for a specific amount since the extent of the damage is still unclear, Ferguson told the Times.

“The true cost won’t be known for months or years afterward,” he told the newspaper.

“What the state is looking for is the highest level of federal support, which requires the highest bars be cleared. But we feel our case for those requirements has been met,” he said.

The Creek fire, San Bernardino County’s El Dorado fire and Los Angeles County’s Bobcat fire were among the blazes cited by Newson in his request, the report said.