California fires could be costliest disaster in US history, says governor

The governor of California said that wildfires in California could be the costliest disaster in the history of the United States, while forecasts of high winds raised fears that the catastrophic fires could spread further.

In statements to NBC Learn about journalism On Sunday, Gavin Newsom said the fires — which have scorched more than 40,000 acres, according to CalFire, the state’s forestry and fire protection department — would be the worst the country has seen “just in terms of the costs associated with them,” [and] In terms of size and scope.”

He added that there are likely to be a much higher number of confirmed deaths. The death toll on Saturday evening reached 16 people, according to Los Angeles authorities.

The possibility of a renewed Santa Ana wind Sunday that fanned the flames left tens of thousands of residents under evacuation orders. The fires are threatening homes in the upscale Mandeville Canyon and Brentwood neighborhood, although officials said they have made progress in halting the progress there.

The National Weather Service forecast wind gusts between 50 and 70 miles per hour, while dry conditions remain.

“We know that high critical fire conditions will continue through Wednesday,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney said Sunday.

Los Angeles is experiencing the second driest start to the rainy season in more than a century, according to the nonprofit CalMatters news service. At the midpoint of the season, Los Angeles has recorded only about 0.2 inches of rain since October — well below the usual 4.5 inches by January.

Newsom, a Democrat, responded to a barrage of attacks from Donald Trump. The incoming Republican president accused the state’s governor of depleting water reserves to protect endangered fish species, and refused to sign a “Water Restoration Proclamation” that would have “allowed millions of gallons of water….” . . To flow daily into many parts of California.” Newsom’s office said there was no such announcement.

Trump, who has a long-running feud with Newsom and refers to him as “Newscom,” also called on the Californian president to resign, accusing him of “gross incompetence.”

“The reservoirs are completely full, the state reservoirs here in Southern California,” Newsom said.

He added: “I do not believe that this false and misleading information is helpful or helpful to any of us.” “To respond to Donald Trump’s insults, we will spend another month. I’m familiar with them. “And every elected official who doesn’t agree with him knows them well.”

Newsom also said he invited the president-elect to visit the affected areas, but has not yet heard back from Trump’s transition team.

Firefighters have brought three blazes under control since Tuesday, including the Sunset Fire that threatened the Hollywood Hills. The Hearst Fire in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles was 80 percent contained Sunday afternoon.

But firefighters are still struggling to control the two largest fires. The Palisades and Eaton fires are 11 percent and 27 percent contained, Newsom said on the X social media platform. The mayor’s office said Sunday that thousands of firefighters were deployed to battle the Palisades fire with heavy trucks and air support. The city also opened shelters for affected families.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has staff in Los Angeles to help Angelenos apply for disaster relief, while the Federal Small Business Administration offers home and business disaster loans.

Newsom issued an executive order that he said would prevent those who lost their homes from “falling into bureaucratic red tape” so they can rebuild quickly.

On Sunday, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency raised the possibility of sending US forces to Los Angeles to help control the fire.

“There are active duty military personnel who have been ordered to prepare for deployment, and they are ready to go and continue to support the firefighting efforts,” Dean Cresswell told ABC. this week program. She warned in an interview with CNN that the strong winds expected in the coming days could lead to the fire spreading further.

An official estimate of the cost of the damage has not yet been released, but analysts at AccuWeather estimated last week that economic losses ranged between $135 billion and $150 billion — less than the $250 billion cost associated with Hurricane Helen last year. At least 12,300 structures were destroyed, according to CalFire.

President Joe Biden pledged on Thursday that the US government would pay “100 percent of all costs” resulting from the disaster, and he would ask Congress for more financial aid.

Trump, who during the campaign last year threatened to withhold disaster funding from California, has so far remained silent on whether he would provide similar aid. On Sunday, he renewed his attacks on state officials.

“Incompetent politicians have no idea how they are positioned [the fires] books. “There is death everywhere. This is one of the worst disasters in the history of our country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?”