First round of Fire Victim Trust pro-rata payments sent out Monday

Monday is the first day the Fire Victim Trust will begin distributing the first round of pro-rata payments, but it has been a long and difficult process for many effected by the fires.

5th.

Today is the first day the fire victim trust will begin distributing the first round of pro-rata payments.

But&as action news now reporter carmela karcher explains&it's been a long and difficult process for many effected by the fires.

Carmela karcher: "construction crews have been working hard to rebuild paradise for over two years&but there are still empty lots and even more people who want to come back."

Ken blaton: "we were nothing but a pile of ash."

Ken blaton has lived in paradise for nearly three decades.

After losing everything in the fire&ken wanted to rebuild.

Carmela karcher: "but, there has been one question that is still on his and many other's minds: how much money am i going to get from the fire victim trust?"

As a builder&ken has seen first- hand the struggles locals are facing to rebuild.

Frustrated&all he and thousands of others have been doing is waiting.

Ken blaton/camp fire survivor: "a lot of people are like, 'hey, we are waiting for our pg&e money&we are waiting to sell whatever property.'

There is just a lot of people telling us that they are waiting for funds.

Then we have people coming in now going hey, maybe we are either going to have to move away from here or we are going to try and see if we can get a loan because we don't know where the money is going to be or if there is going to be any money."

And like many locals&he wants to see paradise thrive.

Ken blaton: "the deal is, a lot of people aren't okay.

A lot of people do need this money to survive."

Carmela karcher: "the trust's first pro-rata payment will be 30% of the total approved claim amount.

In paradise carmela karcher action news now coverage you can count on."

While the first day of payments go out today& the trust says there will be more rounds of additional