Political blame game: Officials point fingers amid Los Angeles fires
The devastating fires in California are sparking political arguments on who is to blame.
A Bank of America is fully engulfed in flames along Lake Ave. during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, California on January 8, 2025. Photo: JOSH EDELSON / AFP
International correspondent Adam Gilchrist joins Bongani Bingwa.
Listen below.
California is currently facing the worst wildfires in its history, leading to finger-pointing on who is to blame after some fire crews’ hoses ‘ran dry’.
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US President-elect Donald Trump has claimed that California Governor Gavin Newsom’s environmental policies have exacerbated the fires.
However, Newsom says these claims are misinformed and has called for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure to fire hydrants.
Before the fires, Los Angeles' fire chief warned that budget cuts were hampering their ability to respond to emergencies.
Climate change has also been highlighted as a contributing factor to the fires.
“The political divide absolutely is weighing into the argument of what is going on with the fires in Los Angeles.”
– Adam Gilchrist
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