California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has been blamed by President-elect Trump for the burning flames in the Los Angeles area, and he has most recently called for his resignation.
A political struggle over the flames, which have killed at least five people and are still not fully contained, has been triggered by the president-elect’s criticism of Newsom.
Trump attacked Newsom and Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, in another post on Thursday morning.
“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The government Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has approved the use of government funding to help fight the flames in California.
Up to 75% of firefighting expenses, such as field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies, and mobilization efforts to combat the ongoing flames, can be covered by FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant, according to a press release.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump blamed the Democratic governor, saying that Newsom should have signed a declaration to pump more water through California to prevent the crisis.
To conserve a species known as the smelt, rules now restrict the amount of water that can be pumped from the neighboring Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Trump declared during his first administration that the fish would not suffer if more water was pumped from the Delta to serve farmland.
Similar claims were made by the incoming commander in chief on Wednesday, who said the smelt were “essentially worthless.”
During an interview on Wednesday, Newsom criticized Trump for his recent remarks.
The Palisades fire, west of Los Angeles, had burnt roughly 18 square miles as of early Thursday morning.
About 16.5 square miles have been burned by the Eaton fire, which is located north of Pasadena, and almost 1 square mile has been burned by the Hurst fire, which is located in the San Fernando Valley.
According to officials, a fresh fire started in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night.
Devastating winds have enveloped the area in flames, resulting in rows of homes being burned to the ground and at least 100,000 individuals being placed under evacuation orders.
According to Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin, the Eaton fire has damaged or destroyed between 200 and 500 houses. The Palisades fire has burned at least 1,000 buildings.
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