Trump jumps in on California wildfires, says ‘bad environmental laws’ making them so much worse

President Donald Trump seemed to blame “bad environmental laws” for raging wildfires in California and called for the cutting down of trees to help stop the spread of the blazes.

The president tweeted Sunday that the state’s water and forest management regulations have made the wildfires “so much worse.”

Image: screenshot

“California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amount of readily available water to be properly utilized,” Trump tweeted. “It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire spreading!”

Raging wildfires in the state have left several people dead in their wake as well as the destruction of homes and businesses. Seventeen major fires are burning in the state, killing eight people — including four firefighters— and causing the closing of Yosemite National Park, according to Fox News.

Some reports have pointed to an increase in vegetation for providing more fuel for the fires as some questioned what prompted Trump’s tweet which came after California Governor Jerry Brown called on the president for help.

“President Trump appears to be referring to endangered species protections, which mandate availability of water for some species,” according to Axios science editor Andrew Freedman “However, firefighters haven’t complained about lack of water for firefighting, but rather, the extreme nature of these fires.”

California’s Democrat governor has vocally blasted the president over pollution and immigration policies but is hopeful they can put their differences aside to deal with the disaster.

“The president has been pretty good on helping us in disasters, so I’m hopeful,” Brown said, according to Fox News. “Tragedies bring people together.”

The president approved the disaster declaration according to the White House on Sunday.

Rep. Devin Nunes thanked Trump for pointing out the state’s “flawed environmental policies,” in a responding tweet.

Trump’s contention that “readily available water” is not being used was questioned by some.

A spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection responded to whether there was a shortage of water for firefighters at the Carr and Mendocino Complex fires.

“Not that I’m aware of … but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” Lynette Round replied, according to San Francisco Chronicle.

The Mendocino Complex fire, which borders part of Mendocino National Forest, has grown to 357 square miles and is 32 percent contained, according to Cal Fire, Fox News reported. Some of the largest wildfires are burning north of San Francisco.

While the president did not mention the California firefighters in his tweet Sunday, a viral video that recently surfaced shows his gratitude to members of law enforcement and the hardworking firefighters.

 

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!

Success! Thank you for donating. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies.
Frieda Powers

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

BPR INSIDER COMMENTS

Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!

Latest Articles