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Devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area continue to burn, having claimed at least 24 lives and destroying thousands of structures.
The fires and the response to them have been a focal point for conspiracies and misleading claims online. We have covered some, but more have gained traction or continue to circulate on social media.
FEMA offers more than an initial aid payment
Several posts on X have made the misleading claim that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is offering fire victims only a single payment of around US$750.
This claim echoes similar ones after hurricanes Helene and Milton, where it was also falsely suggested that victims would get a one-time payment.
FEMA’s missionis “helping people before, during and after disasters,” the agency says on its website, including the co-ordination of …