Staff Reports
The flames that have engulfed parts of Los Angeles County are a vivid reminder that disasters don’t care about political affiliations. The recent wildfires have claimed five lives and charred over 1,000 buildings, with the Eaton Fire emerging as a testament to why some heartily believe that government failure goes hand in hand with natural disasters. The Eaton Fire is currently the second-largest blaze in the county, while the Palisades Fire, which is wreaking havoc with no regard for VIP areas, has burned through more than 15,000 acres.
In an operatic response worthy of a soap opera, President Biden has instructed the Pentagon to deploy 10 Naval helicopters to combat the fires raging in Southern California. While many are thankful for any help, one can’t help but think about how complaints of not having enough resources in place have become a common theme. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh reassured everyone that the “best capabilities and equipment” are in California, but they are having a hard time getting assets off the ground. One wonders if having a private jet for emergencies would ease these issues.
Los Angeles has never experienced something like this. There are now four major fires all with 0% containment. The Sunset fire just resulted in mandatory evacuations in parts of Hollywood, with Beverly Hills now in the "get ready" zone. The Palisades fire alone is already likely… pic.twitter.com/kwd6V8fZyI
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) January 9, 2025
While Biden is busy doing what he can to shift blame—a practice that’s become as common as wildfires in California—local officials are pulling a classic “cry for help,” admitting that they were completely unprepared for the scale of this catastrophic event. The Los Angeles County Fire Department, bless their hearts, thought they could handle one or two brush fires, not an explosive quartet fueled by Santa Ana winds that could easily steal a motorcycle at a bike rally. Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone emphasized how unpredictable this situation has become. Who would’ve thought Southern California could be a tinderbox after a lengthy drought?
Worse yet, as emergency crews scramble to contain chaos, looting is rampant amidst the fires, prompting the question of whether Californian morals have evaporated like the water left in the hydrants. At least two individuals have already met the long arm of the law for their sticky fingers, but it’s hard to scoff too much when those laws seem thinner than a wildfire smoke plume.
In a state of emergency—because who doesn’t love an emergency declaration—Governor Gavin Newsom has orchestrated a 75% federal funding request to tackle the firefighting costs. While some may see this as a reasonable response, it’s hard not to snicker at how a big government built during an era of “climate action” could still struggle to protect its own citizens from fires that could have been better managed. The irony is thick enough to slice through with a firefighter’s axe.
As the winds are forecasted to gust between 60 to 100 mph, a situation is brewing that even Mother Nature’s wildest dreams wouldn’t dare to conjure. Newsom, in a bit of ironic humor, reminded Californians to heed local authorities, as if they weren’t already running for their lives. With the fire season seeming to have no off switch this year, one has to wonder how many lessons will be learned after the flames have died down, or if it will all be treated as another inconvenient truth swept under the California rug.
