In the face of angry victims, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke Saturday in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the federal government -initiated fire continues to cause confusion.
We have a responsibility to help the State of New Mexico recoverPresident Biden told elected officials and emergency workers at a press briefing in the state capital.
Mr. Biden then reviewed the efforts made to fight the largest fire in the history of this state in the American Southwest.
Today, I announce that the federal government will cover 100% of the costshe said, although he said earlier that he would need congressional approval for some funding.
” We are here to support you as much as needed. “
He added that he flew into the part of the territory that burned in Santa Fe. It’s like a moonscapehe mentioned.
An operation went wrong
Due to the drought and wind, the fire destroyed hundreds of homes in the mountains northeast of this city of nearly 90,000 people. The fire started in late April, after two slash and burn campaigns organized by the United States Forest Service (USFS) lost control.
The purpose of prescribed burning is to burn in a controlled manner the small trees, shrubs and other materials that often drive forest fires.
Local officials told the U.S. president they needed more resources for weather forecasting and to help affected residents.
” Our citizens are tired, angry and afraid of the future they face. “
Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from the surrounding agricultural areas where some of the country’s poorest populations already live.
It was not a natural disaster, it was a government entity that caused itsaid Ella Arellano, whose family has lost hundreds of acres of forest around the village of Holman. The mess, just a big mess that will take a generation to fix.
A large territory
More than 320,000 acres (129,500 acres) were affected, an area approximately the size of the city of Los Angeles.
So far, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided more than US $ 3M to more than 900 households.
But the maximum reimbursement ceiling of $ 40,000 per household is not yet enough in some cases to cover the loss of burnt agricultural equipment.
It is also not possible to know if financial assistance from the White House covered the residents ’injuries.
Radio Canada
Source: Radio-Canada