Wells Fargo issues lifeline for California wildfire victims after Trump stepped in

Los Angeles homeowners displaced by the devastating 2025 wildfires can now request up to an extra year of mortgage relief after Wells Fargo agreed to extend forbearance following an effort backed by the Trump administration.

The bank will offer customers directly impacted by the blazes up to an additional 12 months of mortgage forbearance, bringing the total available relief to 27 months, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said: “Big announcement today by @WellsFargo granting Los Angeles wildfire victims a one-year mortgage forbearance extension!

“This is so critical for a homeowner still displaced and simultaneously facing a mortgage payment and rental payment.

“The Trump EPA has been proudly working hard on this effort at President Trump’s direction even if it’s not something we typically do at our agency.”

The agency explained that this relief addresses a hardship that has been voiced time and again during recovery — families are stuck paying mortgages on homes reduced to ashes, all while covering rent for temporary shelter as they wait to rebuild.

“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,” Zeldin said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Wells Fargo reaffirmed its dedication to helping Los Angeles recover and rebuild.

“Supporting our communities has always been a priority at Wells Fargo,” said Serhat Oztop, head of Home Lending at Wells Fargo.

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“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.”

Oztop noted that the bank has donated more than $5 million to nine nonprofits focused on housing and small-business capital, and that it offers free financial coaching through HOPE Inside centers in select branches.

“Together, the measures give impacted homeowners additional breathing room as reconstruction gets underway,” he said.

The EPA also highlighted the federal response to the wildfires, stating that President Trump directed the agency to complete Phase 1 hazardous material removal within 30 days so the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could begin Phase 2 debris removal.

EPA teams surveyed and cleared 13,612 residential properties and 305 commercial properties for debris removal in 28 days and safely disposed of more than 1,000 lithium-ion batteries recovered from vehicles, homes and other devices.

More than 1,600 EPA employees from all 10 regional offices were deployed to support the cleanup, which the agency described as its largest wildfire response ever.