Welcome to meet the press now. I am Kristen Welker, and we begin once again with the breaking news on the wildfires in California, burning for a fourth straight day as the death toll climbs, the devastation

widens. And local officials face mounting questions about their preparations before and actions

during this disaster. These are new images of what's left of the Pacific Palisades, which was

decimated by the Palisades fire. Officials say initial reports show 10,000 properties have been damaged or destroyed in the Los Angeles area.

Analyst expect this to be the costliest wildfire in U.S. history.

We are expecting an update from officials at any moment on the eaten fire,

the second largest wildfire burning right now, and let's go to

Pasadena, get the very latest from officials there.

They need to move forward. This morning, we heard from our insurance commissioner Ricardo

O'Lara regarding what the Department of Insurance is doing to help people as they navigate

the insurance coverage that they may or may not have. This is an important thing to note.

Ricardo Laura has set up an 800 number, which I'm going to put up on our website. But I want

you all to know that we are going to be working diligently with the state to make sure that those

that are insured get the financial help they need.

I'm also hearing that people, I know yesterday we announced that FEMA has set up a website,

and I'm seeing that people are filling out the form and being denied.

I'm following up on that to find out what is going on,

because it is completely mind-boggling to me that people

who have lost everything are filling up a form as told and then are getting an immediate denial.

So if you have done that, please, please, please, I'm going to try to get an answer within

24 hours to find out what's going on so that you all get the answers you deserve.

If you have any questions that you want answered during the meeting tonight, you can drop

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