Pres. Bush declares fire a major disaster

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Washington, D.C.:

President Bush today declared a major disaster in California, which allows people affected by the fires to begin to receive federal grants for temporary housing, home repairs and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.

Bush met this morning at the White House with his cabinet and afterward told reporters: “I believe the effort is well coordinated. I know we’re getting the manpower and assets on the ground that have been requested by the state and local authorities.”

Speaking in the Cabinet Room, the president said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told him that the state was receiving the federal help it needed. “I assured him that if he needs anything, then, great, we’ll provide it, we’ll do so,” he said.

Saying they have learned the lessons of Hurricane Katrina, White House officials have tried to quickly respond to the wildfire emergency in Southern California quickly.

-- Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and James Gerstenzang