Trump says he'll visit California's wildfire-hit communities on Friday
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
An aerial view on Sunday of homes that burned in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
President-elect Trump said he'll visit Southern California areas affected by the historic wildfires on Friday.
The big picture: Trump at a pre-inauguration rally in D.C. on Sunday announcing his visit said he wanted to send his "love to everyone affected" by the Los Angeles-area fires that have killed at least 27 people.
- "I'm going to go out there on Friday to see it and to get it moving back," he said.
- The Republican leader has in recent days clashed with California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the response to the blazes, but the Democrat invited the president-elect to the state last week.
What they're saying: Newsom's spokesperson Izzy Gardon said Sunday evening the governor's office is glad Trump accepted the invitation to come to Los Angeles.
- "The Governor hopes the President-elect meets directly with the Americans affected by these firestorms, sees the devastation firsthand, and joins the Governor and others in thanking the heroic firefighters and first responders who are putting their lives on the line," she said in an email.
- Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.
Zoom out: The fires ignited across Los Angeles County in extremely dry conditions during powerful Santa Ana winds on Jan. 7, as climate change intensifies hydroclimate extremes.
- Los Angeles County's Palisades and Eaton fires that erupted that day are among California's most destructive on record, in terms of structures destroyed.
- The Palisades Fire had razed 23,713 acres and was at 56% containment as of Sunday evening, per Cal Fire.
- The Eaton Fire had burned 14,021 acres and was 81% contained, according to the fire agency.
Meanwhile, Newsom announced in anticipation of more extreme fire weather from Monday night that he's "mobilizing and prepositioning more than 170 fire engines, water tenders, and aircraft to Southern California, along with personnel," per a statement from his office.
- "The National Weather Service has designated this event as a 'Particularly Dangerous Situation,' with possible peak wind speeds up to 70 mph in the coasts and valleys and 100 mph in the mountains and foothills in Los Angeles and Ventura counties," per an emailed statement from the governor's office.
- The state is also "surging additional resources to provide rapid-attack capabilities for early fire starts," according to the statement.
More from Axios:
- California fires could worsen insurance woes
- Climate change plays key contributing role in LA fires
- California's "red pill": MAGA wages information war as LA burns
Editor's note: This article has been updated with details on the California governor's response to the forecast critical fire weather, to reflect a 4% increase in containment for the Palisades Fire, and with further context.
