EPA And Private Business Helps LA Wildfire Survivors Where City Won’t

The Environmental Protection Agency highlighted how Wells Fargo is helping survivors of last year’s Los Angeles wildfires rebuild their lives in a press release Wednesday.

Wells Fargo customers whose homes were directly affected by the 2025 Los Angeles (LA) wildfires won’t have to make payments on their mortgages for a total of 27 months after the bank extended mortgage forbearance by another 12 months, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated in the press release.

Wells Fargo, California’s Department of Emergency Preparedness, and the LA mayor’s office did not immediately respond to the 🏢Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.

“EPA’s cleanup cleared the path to rebuild, and private partners like Wells Fargo stepping up to ease the financial burden on survivors is exactly the public-private effort this recovery needs,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated in the press release.

“Our emphasis has been on expanding small business capital and housing options, and we remain committed to supporting the Los Angeles area through this process,” Wells Fargo’s Head of Home Lending Serhat Oztop stated in the EPA press release.

“Beyond the forbearance extension, Wells Fargo has donated more than $5 million across nine nonprofits focused on small business capital and housing and offers free financial coaching to individuals and business owners through HOPE Inside centers in select branches. Together, the measures give impacted homeowners additional breathing room as reconstruction gets underway,” Oztop stated.

“In February, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler traveled to Los Angeles, California, meeting with local residents and government officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, to discuss ways to fast track the rebuilding of communities devastated by the Palisades and Eaton.,” an EPA spokesperson told the DCNF.