Powerful Santa Ana winds reaching speeds up to 100 mph continue to fuel at least five fires in Los Angeles County as firefighters work through Wednesday evening to battle the blazes that began Tuesday.
The biggest is the Palisades Fire, which has destroyed at least 1,000 structures and forced tens and thousands of residents to evacuate their homes — with some having to abandon their cars on the road. As of late Wednesday, the 15,000-acre conflagration has been 0% contained. The Eaton Fire, roughly 37 miles east, has claimed at least five lives.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said that the state secured a Major Disaster Declaration from President Joe Biden, which provides access to federal funding to help California’s emergency response. The state also received a federal grant Tuesday through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund after Newsom declared a state of emergency.
- Newsom, in a statement Wednesday: “The situation in Los Angeles is highly dangerous and rapidly evolving. President Biden’s swift action is a huge lift for California — as we throw everything we can into protecting residents with substantial state, local and federal resources.”
The governor had planned to be in Washington D.C. this week to attend the late President Jimmy Carter’s memorial service today, but canceled the trip due to the fires. Meanwhile, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass drew backlash for being in Ghana when the fires began, but was back in the city Wednesday. The state’s school chief also launched a fundraising campaign for the more than 300 schools that closed because of the fires.
About 123,000 customers experienced power outages Wednesday evening. In addition to engulfing homes and businesses along the Pacific Coast Highway, the Palisades Fire torched the historic ranch house at Will Rogers State Historic Park and the grounds of the Getty Villa art museum (though the building remained intact). The fires come amid one of the driest seasons on record for Southern California.
Wildfire season: Check out CalMatters’ wildfire tracker for live updates on active fires, a FAQ and other information. And find out more on wildfires in our updated explainer.
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Where does LA’s water come from?
As fires tore through Southern California and fire hydrants ran dry, President-elect Donald Trump took to social media Wednesday to slam Newsom’s water and environmental policies. Calling him “Newscum,” Trump blamed the governor for depriving the region of water fed from Northern California.
- Trump: “He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid.”
Newsom fired back, saying Trump’s arguments were “pure fiction.”
As CalMatters’ Alastair Bland explains, most of Los Angeles water does not come from Northern California, but rather from the city’s century-old aqueduct, groundwater and other imports. While there are many reasons why fires start, severe winds and unusually dry conditions are intensifying the Southern California fires.
- Mark Gold, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California board member: “It’s not a matter of having enough water coming from Northern California to put out a fire. It’s about the continued devastating impacts of a changing climate.”
Navigating a capricious president
The recent squabble between Trump and Newsom underscores the outsized role the incoming president could play amid a state emergency, report CalMatters’ Ryan Sabalow and Alexei Koseff.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to withhold federal wildfire dollars unless California abides by his water policy. A former aide also revealed that during the state’s deadly 2018 wildfires, Trump initially refused to give disaster aid, but changed his mind after he was told that many people in the affected areas had voted for him.
If Trump follows through, Newsom in October said he would consider a contingency account for disaster aid.
Federal funding typically pays for around 75% of the costs of repairing public infrastructure. Without it, California would need billions of dollars in additional money after major disasters. The money is crucial for communities — including Santa Rosa, where in 2017 the Tubbs Fire killed 22 people.
- Assemblymember Chris Rogers, Ukiah Democrat and former Santa Rosa mayor: “Without the help of the federal government, not only would we potentially not have been able to rebuild, but we certainly wouldn’t have been able to rebuild as quickly.”
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Once confined to rural areas during the summer, California wildfires can strike anywhere and anytime due to a warming climate.
Bonus Walters: Corporations and state tax officials have long argued over “unitary taxation,” with a recent Microsoft tax return reigniting the debate.
CalMatters columnist Jim Newton: The Southern California wildfires remind all of us that regardless of wealth, we require the services of each other and our government.
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