california wildfires

Trump blames California fires on 'gross mismanagement' as death toll rises

November 10, 2018

.polaris__post-meta--date { display: none; } .polaris__post-meta--date.no-script { display: block; padding-left: 45px } November 10, 2018

Embers blow in the wind as a Camp Fire burns a KFC restaurant on November 8, 2018 in Paradise, California.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Federal disaster relief payments to California may be cut off, President Trump tweeted from France early Saturday, unless the state improves its forest management techniques:

There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018

California is currently suffering three major wildfires, one of which, the Camp Fire, has grown to become the most destructive recorded in state history. The blaze destroyed the entire town of Paradise, north of Sacramento — some 6,700 structures — and has killed at least nine people. About three dozen more remain missing.

"The magnitude of the destruction in Paradise and a year ago in Santa Rosa is such that it will take many years to recover," said state Sen. Jim Nielsen (R), whose district includes Paradise. "The sadness is that a lot of people who lost their homes will not be able to afford to return once the improvements are completed because the cost of new housing just keeps getting higher and higher."