LA Wildfires

Yes. This is in the richest country in the world in an affluent area.
How on earth was it allowed to get to get to this state?
Even I knew they were short of water in California now.
Feel so sorry about this.

Los Angeles’ mayor remained speechless as she was confronted by a reporter after flying back home to find swathes of her city burnt to the ground.

Karen Bass has faced a storm of criticism for cutting $17.6 million (£14.1 million) from the city’s fire department budget and for travelling to Africa over the weekend despite a critical weather warning.

David Blevins, a Sky News journalist, asked the mayor as she waited to leave the plane: “Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning? And do you regret cutting the fire department budget by millions of dollars, madam mayor?”

Ms Bass, 71, remained stony faced and silent, looking to the floor as Mr Blevins held out a microphone in a video of the confrontation taken on Wednesday. The journalist went on to ask: “Have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today?”

Mr Blevins added: “Elon Musk said that you’re utterly incompetent. Are you considering your position?” but Ms Bass offered no reaction, instead turning to face the wall as the volley of questions continued.

It’s a dreadful situation for so many thousands of people, with no sign of a let up. I really feel for them, it must be awful to know your home and all your possessions are gone forever. Blame is for later, not today. Trump leapt straight to blame rather than expressing concern and commiseration, I don’t think those poor people will forget that.

Casdon

It’s a dreadful situation for so many thousands of people, with no sign of a let up. I really feel for them, it must be awful to know your home and all your possessions are gone forever. Blame is for later, not today. Trump leapt straight to blame rather than expressing concern and commiseration, I don’t think those poor people will forget that.

well he's been denying climate change for years so of course he'll shift blame..

I agree, now is the time for action to help those affected, not petty political point-scoring.

It’s quite unbelievable how many homes/ businesses /schools are gone …so much destruction- I’m not sure how I would cope having to pack up my life in a car and my family have 2cats and a dog who are now petrified and anxious 😟

MissInterpreted

I agree, now is the time for action to help those affected, not petty political point-scoring.

Trump is so ill mannered, rude, inflammatory, adding scum to the governor’s name.
As for Elon Musk - best ignored

This is an issue that Trump has been calling out for years. 2018 and 2020 he was calling for better maintenance of the land. So I guess he's just reminding folk. Should have held off for a while though.

The fires are just horrendous. I do hope they're all contained and rebuilding can start as soon as possible.

The Governor of California, @GavinNewsom, has done a terrible job of forest management. I told him from the first day we met that he must ‘clean’ his forest floors regardless of what his bosses, the environmentalists, DEMAND of him. Must also do burns and cut fire stoppers," the former and upcoming president posted to X in 2019.

I hope your family end up being ok Bea65.

It’s just awful.
Fires are unpredictable and spread fast with a breeze, igniting everything in its path.So many hundreds of acres are almost impossible to douse, it will eventually be doused but not before massive devastation.

Everything has come together to produce these awful wildfires. Nowhere near the expected rainfall, tinder dry conditions, gale force winds and a huge reduction in fire service funding by the current mayor.
As tragic as it is to see someone's cherished home consumed by fire, I hope the people in the middle of it all keep safe.

I’ve just seen on the news that 180,000 people have now had to leave their homes. That’s the whole population of a small city in the UK. It’s hard to imagine so many having just their cars, and nowhere to go. I hope home insurance is commonplace in USA, or many will be left with nothing.

edition.cnn.com/2025/01/09/business/california-wildfires-homeowners-insurance/index.html

That is terrifying to read fancy that. Those poor people will have lost everything,

I saw it on youtube, it was horrific seeing houses burn up, roofs falling in and sending a load of embers into the air. No sign of it abating

My sister had to move fast in australia, they had only a short time to pack the car and they had six very young puppies too. That was the fourth time they were affected by fires, which move very fast.

pascal30

Casdon

It’s a dreadful situation for so many thousands of people, with no sign of a let up. I really feel for them, it must be awful to know your home and all your possessions are gone forever. Blame is for later, not today. Trump leapt straight to blame rather than expressing concern and commiseration, I don’t think those poor people will forget that.

well he's been denying climate change for years so of course he'll shift blame..

I saw a recent video of him trashing 'ecologists' concerned about water use and trying to reduce watering of lawns and golf courses, etc- saying we have plenty of water, it just comes down from the sky, etc.

Here is a link about Trump criticising those wanting to limit water use in some areas

youtu.be/tza1-n57nzs?feature=shared

Casdon

It’s a dreadful situation for so many thousands of people, with no sign of a let up. I really feel for them, it must be awful to know your home and all your possessions are gone forever. Blame is for later, not today. Trump leapt straight to blame rather than expressing concern and commiseration, I don’t think those poor people will forget that.

It is just dreadful, devastation over a wide area.
Those poor people losing everything, some losing their lives too.

Trump need not start blaming people, nor should Musk.

Quite honestly, there is so much to put right in the USA that he will need to concentrate on his own country.

Musk is wealthy enough to be able to help those who have lost everything, set up a charity perhaps. Some altruism and philanthropy at home might be better than criticism of other countries.

Bea65
I hope your family will be all right.

To be fair though, Trump has been banging on about this for a long time.

However, many of the affected celebrities have been voicing their disapproval on X.

So not just Trump.

Louella12

To be fair though, Trump has been banging on about this for a long time.

However, many of the affected celebrities have been voicing their disapproval on X.

So not just Trump.

Lost my post.

I had to admit Trump is right but he did have a point.

Those in Australia who have been carrying out hazard reduction methods for years ie burning off forest floor debris and controlled burning to prevent the spread of bush fires have been prevented from doing so in recent years.

I hate to admit Trump is right ...

Louella12

To be fair though, Trump has been banging on about this for a long time.

However, many of the affected celebrities have been voicing their disapproval on X.

So not just Trump.

I'm sorry?

What has Trump been 'banging on about for a long time'?

I think Louella12 is talking about controlled burning of forest floor debris, controlled burning to create fire breaks.

I have heard a lot about this in Australia where these traditional methods of controlling the spread and ferocity of fires has been stopped in recent years. When I was last there there was a fire right near us and it is very frightening. Farms were burnt out.

I don't know about the USA and what has been happening there but presumably Louella12 knows.