LA Palisades Wildfire: The Palisades Fire along the Los Angeles coast has now engulfed over 15,800 acres, stretching between Malibu and Santa Monica. At least five people have lost their lives, and more than 150,000 remain under evacuation orders. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed that the Palisades Fire is the largest blaze in the county, having destroyed at least 1,000 structures so far.
Billionaire Elon Musk shared footage of the destruction on X (formerly Twitter), showcasing the catastrophic impact of the wildfire. One clip revealed beachfront homes in Malibu reduced to ashes. City officials have urged residents to evacuate immediately, even those not under mandatory orders.
As firefighters battle to contain the inferno, President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for California on Wednesday. This move, according to the White House, unlocks federal resources to aid survivors.
“President Biden has approved a Major Disaster declaration for California, allowing survivors to access funds and resources to begin their recovery,” stated the White House in a fact sheet. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to reimburse California for firefighting costs.
Trump Criticizes Newsom Over Wildfire Response
President-elect Donald Trump criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, blaming him for the fires. Trump accused Newsom of rejecting a plan to direct more water to the state’s agricultural Central Valley, instead prioritizing the protection of the delta smelt, a small fish species.
“Governor Newsom wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Now the ultimate price is being paid.”
Reports of empty fire hydrants across Los Angeles County have added to the crisis. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works stated that the issue stems from the overwhelming demand on the city’s water system, which was not designed to support such intensive firefighting efforts.