New fires have ignited in southern California, with several blazes breaking out ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to the state. On Thursday, fires in Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura, and Riverside counties, including Laguna, Sepulveda, Gibbel, Gilman, and Border 2, flared up. This follows weeks of devastating fires, with the Palisades and Eaton fires having scorched over 37,000 acres and resulted in at least 28 fatalities
Current Status of the Fires
- Hughes Fire: This 10,000-acre fire in Los Angeles is 36% contained as of Thursday, following significant efforts from firefighting teams
- Border 2 Fire: Spanning 4,250 acres in San Diego, this fire is 10% contained, and evacuation orders are in effect
- Laguna Fire: A 94-acre blaze in Ventura, which is 70% contained
- Sepulveda Fire: Spanning 45 acres in Los Angeles, this fire is 60% contained, with evacuation orders lifted after the fire was contained
- Gibbel Fire: In Riverside County, covering 15 acres, it is 50% contained
- Gilman Fire: A two-acre blaze in San Diego that has been contained
Firefighters have made progress in controlling some of these blazes, but many areas remain under high risk. The situation is particularly dire as the region faces elevated fire risks, with brisk winds exacerbating the threat. Additionally, the forecast includes rain over the weekend, which could aid firefighting efforts but also pose the risk of flooding and mudslides in the wake of the fires
Trump is scheduled to visit Los Angeles on Friday to observe the damage caused by the wildfires. Prior to this, he will stop in North Carolina to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in September. During his visit to North Carolina, Trump expressed his disappointment in the Biden administration’s handling of disaster relief efforts and vowed to address the “massive damage” in the state
Trump has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with California’s approach to wildfire management. He has criticized Governor Gavin Newsom, blaming the state’s water management practices for exacerbating the fire risks. Trump has also threatened to withhold federal aid unless California changes its water policies and implements voter ID laws
Governor Newsom’s office has responded, condemning the conditioning of aid for citizens based on political actions, with Newsom stating that “Conditioning aid for American citizens is wrong.” The president of the California Professional Firefighters, Brian Rice, also urged Trump to ensure that federal aid reaches California’s fire-affected communities, stressing the importance of swift support for those who have lost their homes and lives
Trump has also criticized FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), accusing the agency of failing to do its job in North Carolina. He suggested that the management of disasters should be handled by state governments rather than federal agencies, arguing that FEMA’s performance under the Biden administration was inadequate
While California has taken state-level action, including announcing a $2.5 billion aid package to assist with fire damage, the risk of further destruction remains high. Local residents have been preparing for potential flooding, with sandbags and other flood prevention supplies being distributed to help protect properties from the expected rain and mudslides
