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ALTADENA, Calif. () — Fire survivors gathered Friday outside Southern California Edison’s Altadena Rebuild and Community Hub, accusing the utility of failing to provide urgent support as they continue to recover from the Eaton Fire.
Chanting demonstrators — many of them mothers, at the start of Mother’s Day weekend — called for immediate financial relief.
“We’re here to let Edison International know that they need to fix what they’ve broken,” said Heavenly Hughes of My Tribe Rise.
The event brought together local fire survivor groups and civil rights organizations. Their primary demand: that Edison issue upfront housing relief payments to property owners who lost homes in the fire.
“We are demanding Edison advance $200,000 for every household that’s been displaced from the fire, immediately,” said Adriata Bautista of the Dena Rise Up Coalition.
SoCal Edison spokesperson Scott Johnson said the utility is already making payments through the company’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Fund, launched in October.
“What they need to do is submit a claim,” he said.
According to Edison, the fund has paid out more than $120 million to more than 800 claimants. Another $550 million has been offered to nearly 1,600 people who have filed claims but have not accepted compensation.
Johnson said submitting a claim is nonbinding.
“You’re only locked in once you see the offer and decide, ‘This is perfect for me and I can accept the compensation and move on with the rebuild.’ If they look at it and decide, ‘You know what, this isn’t quite right for me,’ then they can pursue other avenues,” he said.
Survivor groups are also urging federal officials to extend FEMA assistance, which is set to expire in July.
“Deliver the federal support our survivors desperately need,” one speaker said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has formally requested a one-year extension of FEMA aid. Rep. Judy Chu said she is working to secure approval.
“We continue to call on President Trump to take up Governor Newsom’s disaster supplemental request in full to provide desperately needed infusions of federal funds for rebuilding and recovery,” she said.
As the deadline approaches, survivors say the need remains urgent. Hughes said many families still cannot return home.
“These mothers are unable to be with their families on Mother’s Day in their homes,” she said.
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