Biden says U.S. will pay the bill for New Mexico wildfire recovery
The U.S. government will fund New Mexico's full wildfire response,
President Joe Biden said on Saturday, speaking from Santa Fe
amid anger from survivors over the blaze that was started by federal officials.
Driven by drought and wind, the fire has destroyed hundreds of homes in mountains northeast of Santa Fe since two
prescribed burns by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) went out of control in April.
The White House said in a statement that Biden's order would cover "debris removal and emergency protective
measures" for 90 days, a period to act as a bridge between
emergency operations and possible further congressionally mandated assistance.
Biden told staff at an emergency operations center shortly before he was expected to meet families who had lost homes to the fire that he would support any congressional bill to allow people to completely rebuild.
Biden says U.S. will pay the bill for New Mexico wildfire recovery