Wildfires: California’s new normal

Nothing underscores my take on the wildfires ravaging California more than the title of a commentary I published a few years ago — “Groundhog Day: California’s Burning.” Alas, wildfires scorching wide swathes of the state are the new normal.

The Pacific Palisades fire, alongside the Eaton, Hurst, and Woodley fires, has forced thousands to flee their homes. These fires have damaged over 1,000 structures, killed five people, forced 80,000 to evacuate, left 1 million without power, and show no signs of flaming out.

But as the title cited above indicates, the only surprising thing about this inferno is the speed at which drought-driven climate change is fueling its spread, causing devastation on an unprecedented scale. Indeed, I’m old enough to remember the “apocalyptic” Paradise fire that raged in California just a few years ago.

Biden steps up, Trump casts blame

President Biden happened to be in California when the fires exploded across Los Angeles County. He wasted no time issuing a major disaster declaration to unlock federal resources. Appearing with Governor Gavin Newsom near the Palisades Fire, Biden called the wildfires “astounding.”

“We’re doing anything and everything,” he assured the state. “It’s going to take time.” For all his faults, Biden understands that when Americans are suffering, leadership means providing comfort and relief, not blame and bluster.

Contrast that with President-elect Trump’s response. As fires tore through Los Angeles County, he took to Truth Social to blame Newsom for “protecting an essentially worthless fish.”

According to Trump, California’s refusal to divert water from the north caused the apocalyptic wildfires. “He is the blame for this,” Trump declared, completely ignoring the role of climate change and extreme drought. California has had virtually no rain for eight months. In other words, the suffering of fellow Americans be damned.

But this is the former president who tossed paper towels at hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. Reports even surfaced that his aides had to talk him out of denying wildfire relief to California districts that didn’t vote for him. So it’s hardly surprising that he’s using this tragedy to take cheap shots at a perceived political “enemy.”

Gov. DeSantis shows Trump how to be presidential

Enter Ron DeSantis, Florida’s governor and Trump’s chief rival for the GOP nomination. DeSantis is no stranger to disaster politics. But he responded to California’s crisis as any normal politician would. “Our prayers are with everyone affected by the horrific fires in Southern California,” DeSantis posted, offering Florida’s assistance to help rebuild devastated communities.

So kudos to DeSantis for upstaging Trump by appearing more presidential, which admittedly did not require much doing. After all, when faced with catastrophe, even MAGA Americans want empathy and action, not conspiracy theories about fish and water rights. Yet they voted for Trump. Go figure.

Finally, I’d be remiss to ignore the irony simmering beneath these flames. For years, California’s wildfires devastated rural and working-class communities, leaving the wealthy unscathed in their Montecito, Malibu, and Palisades mansions. But that’s changing, as flames now tear through affluent neighborhoods. They’re getting a taste of life as “the dispossessed,” even if only until insurance money makes them whole again, at least materially.

Wildfires, like homelessness and crime, are just another reason some flee California. But many are still California dreamin’.