By Sky News
Donald Trump has visited
areas in northern and southern California that have been devastated by two
massive wildfires, killing 76 people.
areas in northern and southern California that have been devastated by two
massive wildfires, killing 76 people.
The US president, who has
blamed poor forest management for the fire, expressed his sadness after seeing
some of the devastation in Paradise, in the north, and meeting with first
responders.
blamed poor forest management for the fire, expressed his sadness after seeing
some of the devastation in Paradise, in the north, and meeting with first
responders.
He told reporters:
“This is very sad. They’re telling me this is not as bad as some areas;
some areas are even beyond this, they’re just charred.
“This is very sad. They’re telling me this is not as bad as some areas;
some areas are even beyond this, they’re just charred.
“As far as the lives
are concerned, nobody knows quite yet. Right now we want to take care of the
people who have been so badly hurt.”
are concerned, nobody knows quite yet. Right now we want to take care of the
people who have been so badly hurt.”
Mr Trump pledged that
improved forest management practices will diminish future risks
improved forest management practices will diminish future risks
“We do have to do
management, maintenance and we’ll be working also with environmental groups. I
think everybody’s seen the light,” he said.
management, maintenance and we’ll be working also with environmental groups. I
think everybody’s seen the light,” he said.
“I don’t think we’ll
have this again to this extent. Hopefully this is going to be the last of these
because this was a really, really bad one.”
have this again to this extent. Hopefully this is going to be the last of these
because this was a really, really bad one.”
Asked whether the scenes
of devastation had changed his view on climate change, Mr Trump said: “No.
I have a strong opinion. I want great climate and we’re going to have that and
we’re going to have forests that are very safe.”
of devastation had changed his view on climate change, Mr Trump said: “No.
I have a strong opinion. I want great climate and we’re going to have that and
we’re going to have forests that are very safe.”
The number of dead in the
so-called Camp Fire increased to 76 on Saturday evening, while the list of
people unaccounted for has grown to more than 1,200.
so-called Camp Fire increased to 76 on Saturday evening, while the list of
people unaccounted for has grown to more than 1,200.
Earlier, Butte County
Sheriff Kory Honea stressed that it does not mean all of them are missing.
Sheriff Kory Honea stressed that it does not mean all of them are missing.
Sheriff Honea said the
list of missing was “dynamic” and could easily contain duplicate
names and unreliable spellings, as well as some who fled the blaze and do not
realise they have been reported missing.
list of missing was “dynamic” and could easily contain duplicate
names and unreliable spellings, as well as some who fled the blaze and do not
realise they have been reported missing.
The wildfire razed the
town of Paradise, with a population of 27,000, and heavily damaged the outlying
communities of Magalia and Concow, destroying 9,700 houses and 144 apartment
buildings, authorities said.
town of Paradise, with a population of 27,000, and heavily damaged the outlying
communities of Magalia and Concow, destroying 9,700 houses and 144 apartment
buildings, authorities said.
Firefighters were gaining
ground against the blaze, which blackened 222 square miles. It was 45%
contained and posed no immediate threat to populated areas.
ground against the blaze, which blackened 222 square miles. It was 45%
contained and posed no immediate threat to populated areas.
Searches were also
continuing for those who perished and those who survived the deadliest US
wildfire in a century.
continuing for those who perished and those who survived the deadliest US
wildfire in a century.
Some survivors resent
that Mr Trump tweeted two days after the disaster to blame poor forest
mismanagement. He also threatened to withhold federal payments from California.
that Mr Trump tweeted two days after the disaster to blame poor forest
mismanagement. He also threatened to withhold federal payments from California.
“If you insult
people, then you go visit them, how do you think you’re going to be accepted?
You’re not going to have a parade,” Maggie Crowder, of Magalia, said on
Thursday.
people, then you go visit them, how do you think you’re going to be accepted?
You’re not going to have a parade,” Maggie Crowder, of Magalia, said on
Thursday.
But Stacy Lazzarino, who
voted for Mr Trump, said it would be good for the president to see the
devastation up close, adding: “I think by maybe seeing it he’s going to be
like ‘Oh, my goodness’, and it might start opening people’s eyes.”
voted for Mr Trump, said it would be good for the president to see the
devastation up close, adding: “I think by maybe seeing it he’s going to be
like ‘Oh, my goodness’, and it might start opening people’s eyes.”
Mr Trump is expected to
travel several hundred miles south to visit the families of victims of a mass
shooting at a country music bar in Thousand Oaks
travel several hundred miles south to visit the families of victims of a mass
shooting at a country music bar in Thousand Oaks
In southern California,
more residents were being allowed back into their homes near Los Angeles after
a fire torched an area the size of Denver, destroying more than 600 homes and
leaving at least three people dead.
more residents were being allowed back into their homes near Los Angeles after
a fire torched an area the size of Denver, destroying more than 600 homes and
leaving at least three people dead.
Several other fires have
also hit the state in the last couple of weeks.
also hit the state in the last couple of weeks.