New Wildfires Erupt in Southern California Ahead of Trump’s Visit

As wildfires escalate across Southern California, President Donald Trump gears up for a visit to survey the damage and critique state disaster management.

New wildfires have ignited in Southern California just ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to the state. The newly named fires, including Laguna, Sepulveda, Gibbel, Gilman, and Border 2, broke out on Thursday in Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura, and Riverside counties. Firefighters are making strides in containing the ongoing Hughes Fire in Los Angeles, which has consumed about 10,000 acres since its ignition on Wednesday and is currently 36% contained.

The rapid spread of these blazes has taken a severe toll on the region, exacerbating a disastrous wildfire season that has already seen the Palisades and Eaton fires devastate over 37,000 acres and claim the lives of at least 28 victims. According to reports from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), the current status of the major fires is as follows: the Border 2 fire has spread across 4,250 acres and is only 10% contained, while the Laguna blaze has burned 94 acres with 70% containment. The Sepulveda fire in Los Angeles has reached 45 acres and is currently 60% contained. The Gibbel fire in Riverside County is 50% contained after consuming 15 acres. A smaller bushfire called Gilman in San Diego covers just two acres, with firefighting efforts having halted its advancement.

Anticipating Trump’s visit to Los Angeles on Friday, which follows a trip to North Carolina to view the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the president has voiced dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s disaster relief response. He criticized the current administration for its handling of aid, stating intentions to remedy what he described as a "massive amount of damage." Additionally, Trump has pointed fingers at California Governor Gavin Newsom, linking the state’s water management to the ongoing fire crisis, and has threatened to withhold federal support following his claim that California mismanages its natural resources in an effort to protect certain species.

Governor Newsom's office rebutted Trump’s assertions, declaring that tying federal aid to political disputes was an unjust approach to assist American citizens impacted by the escalating wildfires. Brian Rice, President of the California Professional Firefighters, expressed concern over the potential denial of aid, emphasizing the importance of federal resources for the affected communities.

While Trump scrutinizes the effectiveness of FEMA under Biden’s leadership, attention remains on getting vital aid into the areas hit hardest by the fires. Concurrently, Newsom announced a state-level aid package of $2.5 billion to address the wildfire damage.

As Los Angeles remains under an elevated fire risk with brisk winds today, forecasts predict rain over the weekend, which could help firefighting efforts but also pose risks for flooding and mudslides in previously burned zones. Local authorities are distributing sandbags and flood prevention supplies to residents as a precautionary measure. The aftermath of the devastation caused by previous fires is still palpable, recalling the tragic mudslides that took the lives of 23 individuals in Montecito in 2018.