Trump Slams California Leaders’ Incompetence Over Wildfire Response

The fires have claimed at least 16 lives, displaced 150,000 people, and destroyed over 12,000 structures.

Sun Jan 12 2025
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Key Points

  • Worst catastrophes in US history
  • At least 16 killed, 150,000 people displaced
  • Over 12,000 structures destroyed.
  • Major investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of fires

 

LOS ANGELES: US President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday slammed California officials calling them incompetent over their handling of deadly wildfires around Los Angeles.

“The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols (politicians) have no idea how to put them out,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?” he wrote.

The rapid spread and intensity of the wildfires devastating Los Angeles have strained its firefighting infrastructure, sparking questions and criticism about the state’s level of preparedness.

Los Angeles, Wildfires, US weather,
A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, California on January 8, 2025. —Photo by AFP

In the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, hydrants ran dry as one of five separate fires swept through the area, while water shortages also hindered firefighting efforts in other regions.

Meanwhile, with just over a week until his return to the White House, Trump has issued a series of unsubstantiated attacks, blaming California’s Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, for shortcomings in the state’s response to the fires.

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A firefighting helicopter drops water as the Sunset Fire burns in the Hollywood Hills with evacuations ordered on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. —Photo by AFP

Trump invited to visit Los Angeles to survey devastation

Meanwhile, Newsom has invited Trump to visit Los Angeles and survey the devastation.

According to state officials, the fires have claimed at least 16 lives, displaced 150,000 people, and destroyed over 12,000 structures.

Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place,” Trump said in his post.

The Palisades Fire was 11% contained as of Saturday and had spread to 23,600 acres, while the Eaton Fire had burned 14,000 acres and was 15% contained.

fire
Flames from the Palisades Fire burns a car and homes during a powerful windstorm. —Photo by AFP

Official data indicates that over 12,000 structures have been destroyed, though Cal Fire’s Todd Hopkins clarified that this number includes not just homes but also outbuildings, vehicles, and sheds.

Amid reports of looting and with a night-time curfew in effect, police and the National Guard have set up checkpoints to prevent unauthorized entry into disaster zones.

Wildfire
A building burns during the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of west Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake

However, residents have expressed frustration as they face waits of up to 10 hours to access their neighbourhoods and assess the damage to their homes.

Poor management

The lengthy queues left many residents frustrated, adding to existing complaints about poor management.

On Saturday, city officials presented a united front following reports of internal disagreements and rumours that Mayor Karen Bass had dismissed her fire chief.

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“As you see here, the chief and I are lockstep in our number one mission, and that mission is to get us past this emergency,” Bass told reporters.

France, Wildfires, Evacuations

Body search

Among the victims of the tragedy was former Australian child star Rory Sykes, best known for his role in the 1990s British TV show Kiddy Kapers.

“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heart broken,” his mother Shelley Sykes wrote on social media.

 

AFP 20240910 36FY6VN v2 HighRes TopshotUsWeatherClimateFire 1 1 1 scaled
Plumes of smoke rise from wildfires in San Bernardino County mountains as seen from Rancho Palos Verdes, California on September 10, 2024 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Wildfires fueled by soaring temperatures in the western United States have scorched thousands of acres, forcing hundreds of families to flee, US officials said September 9, 2024. —Photo by AFP

Investigation

A major investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fires, involving the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and local authorities, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Wildfire
Firefighters battle flames from the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images via AFP)

“We are not going to leave any rock unturned,” he said.

If this is a criminal act — I’m not saying it’s going to be — if it is, we need to hold whoever did this, or groups responsible,” Luna added, appealing for anyone who had information to come forward.

Federal government to cover 100% of disaster response costs

On Thursday, President Biden announced that for the next six months, the federal government will cover 100% of the disaster response costs related to the wildfires ravaging neighbourhoods in the greater Los Angeles area. He also indicated plans to request additional funding from Congress to support ongoing efforts.

Los Angeles, Wildfires, US weather,
Wildfires in Los Angeles County have led to mass evacuations, destroying homes and threatening residents including celebrities—Photo by AFP

During a briefing on the fires from the White House, the president explained that federal funds would be used for tasks such as debris removal, establishing temporary shelters, and compensating first responders. Mr. Biden further stated that he is deploying all available federal resources to Southern California, including 400 federal firefighters and 30 firefighting planes, along with other necessary assets.

fireee
Witnesses have reported a number of homes on engulfed by flames. —Photo by AFP

“I told the governor and local officials, spare no expense,” Biden said, calling the damage “catastrophic.”

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