The bills, signed this week, streamline the process for rebuilding homes lost to wildfires, including an accelerated permitting process, and allow residents to live in temporary structures on their properties while they rebuild permanent homes. They also provide property tax relief for wildfire survivors.

The Eaton and Palisades fires killed more than 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes in January in the city of Altadena and in coastal communities in the city of Malibu and in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

“While it’s been nine months since these firestorms struck Los Angeles, the destruction and devastation left behind is still fresh for thousands of survivors and remains a constant reminder that we have more to do to support our fellow Californians,” Newsom said in a statement.

He said the lessons learned from the firestorms informed the bipartisan bills, which also reform the state’s disaster response. The legislation also puts in place programs to decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfires by creating a grant program to provide funds to low-income homeowners to install fire-safe roofs on their homes and allotting money to fund defensible space vegetation clearing projects.

The Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in the state’s history, broke out on Jan. 7 and burned for days, killing 12 people and destroying nearly 7,000 structures. Federal officials on Wednesday called the blaze a “holdover fire” from a Jan. 1 fire that was not fully extinguished by firefighters. Prosecutors this week charged Jonathan Rinderknecht, who lived in the area, accusing him of starting a small fire on New Year’s Day.

The Eaton Fire broke out the same day in the community of Altadena, destroying more than 9,400 homes and killing 19 people. Investigators have not officially determined a cause, but the federal government sued utility Southern California Edison last month, alleging its equipment sparked the fire.

Newsom signed several of the measures in Altadena while flanked by legislators and wildfire survivors.

The bills will also protect homeowners and tenants immediately following a disaster and crack down on looting and first responder impersonators in evacuation zones.

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Children

Project Camp: The Los Angeles-based organization runs trauma-informed pop-up day camps for children displaced or out of school due to natural disasters. Its in the process of setting up multiple sites to help families impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires. It is accepting monetary donations as well as volunteers to staff the camps. Impacted families can also find out how to sign up for a camp here.

Displaced households

GoFundMe: The nonprofit crowdfunding platform’s Wildfire Recovery Fund gives emergency grants to verified people and families fundraising for themselves or others, as well as small businesses and nonprofits.

Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) and bstrong: In partnership with Bethenny Frankel’s bstrong disaster relief fund, GEM will distribute cash cards to evacuated residents to help with immediate needs like accommodation, gas and food. The organizations are accepting cash donations.

First responders and volunteers

California Fire Foundation: California Professional Firefighters founded the nonprofit in 1987 to support families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and communities impacted by fires. The foundation is supporting both firefighters responding to the Los Angeles fires as well as people affected.

Watch Duty: The nonprofit service provides real-time updates on wildfire activity, evacuations, shelters and more via its free app, which more than 1.4 million people downloaded in the 48 hours since the fires began. The organization relies on donations and a team of 200 volunteers, gathering and vetting information from radio scanners and official sources, to do its work.

Animals

Pasadena Humane Society: The animal rescue had taken in over 300 animals due to evacuations as of Wednesday night, including some with burns and injuries. Its officers are also on the ground finding animals that need help. It is accepting monetary donations as well as onsite donations of food, water bowls, extra-large crates, and blankets.

Longterm recovery

California Community Foundation: The 110-year-old Los Angeles-based foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund addresses longterm recovery needs like temporary housing, rebuilding homes, mental health and medical care. It also provides updated equipment to firefighters and helps rebuild emergency communications systems. It is accepting cash donations and helps company match employees’ gifts as well.

Team Rubicon and Samaritan’s Purse: Both organizations will help people who lost homes with debris removal once cleanup begins, among other work related to rebuilding. Team Rubicon is currently helping local agencies with tasks like clearing roads and Samaritan’s Purse has deployed 20 chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team to provide spiritual support.

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