FEMADR-1810-CAMajor disasterDeclared November 18, 2008
DR-1810-CA: California Wildfires
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for California (DR-1810-CA) on November 18, 2008 for the incident of November 13, 2008 to November 28, 2008; it covers 4 designated areas. FEMA had approved $3.8 million for 486 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $55.9 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1810-CA (also written FEMA-1810-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- California
- Incident
- Fire: Wildfires
- Incident period
- November 13, 2008 to November 28, 2008
- Declared
- November 18, 2008
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 9
- Place in the year
- the only major disaster declaration for California in 2008
- Status
- closed out on September 16, 2021
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- January 20, 2009
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
Which areas are covered, and for what?
| Designated area | Individuals and Households | Public Assistance | Hazard Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Orange (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Riverside (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Santa Barbara (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
An area can be added to a declaration after the first day, or have a program added: this table is FEMA's current list.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
How much has FEMA approved?
486households approved for help (IHP)
$3.8 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$3.1 millionof it for housing
$770,276of it for other needs
$55.9 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$8.2 millionHazard Mitigation Grant Program obligated
Individual assistance figures as of October 1, 2026, public assistance as of May 17, 2026. FEMA updates both as applications are decided.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2); FEMA, OpenFEMA FEMA Web Disaster Summaries (v1). Data as of September 29, 2026.
FEMA's page for this declaration
FEMA's own page for this declaration is fema.gov/disaster/1810. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on January 20, 2009.