Donald Trump tears into ‘incompetent’ California leaders over deadly wildfires response

US President-elect Donald Trump accused California officers on Sunday of incompetence over their dealing with of lethal wildfires raging round Los Angeles.

“The fires are nonetheless raging in L.A. The incompetent pols (politicians) do not know methods to put them out,” Trump mentioned on his Reality Social platform.

“This is without doubt one of the worst catastrophes within the historical past of our Nation. They only cannot put out the fires. What’s flawed with them?” he wrote.

The pace and depth of the blazes ravaging Los Angeles have examined its firefighting infrastructure and given rise to questions and criticism in regards to the state’s preparedness.

Hydrants ran dry within the Pacific Palisades neighborhood because it was ravaged by one of many area’s 5 separate fires, whereas water shortages moreover hampered efforts elsewhere.

With simply over every week earlier than he returns to the White Home, Trump has launched a collection of evidence-free broadsides accusing California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom of failings in response to the blazes.

Newsom has in the meantime invited Trump to go to Los Angeles and survey the devastation with him.

The fires have thus far killed no less than 16 individuals, displaced 150,000 extra, and destroyed greater than 12,000 constructions in response to state officers.

“Hundreds of magnificent homes are gone, and lots of extra will quickly be misplaced. There’s loss of life far and wide,” Trump mentioned in his put up.

Regardless of firefighters’ heroic efforts, together with precision sorties from aerial crews, the Palisades Hearth has continued to push east in direction of the priceless collections of the Getty Middle artwork museum and north to the densely populated San Fernando Valley.