California officials are facing intense scrutiny in the wake of the devastating wildfires that broke out in Los Angeles, causing widespread destruction. The fires, which resulted in the loss of dozens of lives and thousands of homes, have sparked a wave of criticism directed at key figures, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, and Janisse Quinones, head of the state’s Water and Power Department.
Bass left for a trip to Ghana on Jan. 4, just two days before the National Weather Service issued warnings of critical fire conditions and strong winds. The Palisades Fire broke out on Jan. 7, and Bass was en route back to Los Angeles five hours later, according to the Mayor’s office, returning to the city on the afternoon of Jan. 8.
The mayor’s absence, combined with recent budget cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department, amounting to over $17 million, drew significant criticism.
Critics, including the L.A. Fire Department chief, questioned whether the city’s response to the fire could have been more effective. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley expressed frustration over several issues, such as low water pressure from fire hydrants and a lack of adequate resources to tackle the blazes. When repeatedly asked if the city failed the community, she responded “yes.”
Some reports highlighted that three one million gallon water tanks brought in to aid firefighting efforts ran dry after 17 hours, and a nearby reservoir holding 117 million gallons of water had been out of service for nearly a year due to safety regulations.
Janisse Quinones, the head of the L.A. Water and Power Department, is facing scrutiny over these issues. According to city documents, the empty reservoir was designated for firefighting purposes, but had been taken out of service in February 2024 to “meet drinking water safety regulations.” Quinones, who receives a salary double that of her predecessor, has also been criticized for her previous statements about prioritizing equity in the department’s operations. Some reports noted that Quinones was aware of the water shortages months before the fires.
Newsom, who has been on the ground in Los Angeles to oversee the firefighting efforts, has also come under fire. While Newsom has posted video updates about the state’s response, his remarks on a podcast about the fire response have sparked backlash. Newsom acknowledged the lack of clear answers he was receiving, adding that the state had launched an investigation into the fire response. However, he has faced criticism for appearing to shift blame to local leaders during his Pod Save America podcast appearance.
“You’re ultimately responsible as the governor of the state,” the podcaster, Jon Favreau, said.
“Of course, I want to know the answers,” Newsom replied. “I’ve been asked that question by so many people. ‘What happened?’ People on my own team are asking me, ‘What happened?’ And I want to get the answers. I’ll be candid — I wasn’t getting straight answers.”
“You weren’t getting straight answers?” Favreau asked.
“No,” Newsom said. “I was getting different answers.”
What has right-leaning media been saying?
The coverage of the fire response and the political fallout has drawn significant attention from both left- and right-leaning media outlets. Right-leaning outlets have focused on the perceived failures of Democratic policies, including budget cuts to the fire department, and concerns over water resources, while also pointing to state policies they argue contributed to the fire’s severity.
Fox News reported, “Democratic lawmakers are claiming the severity of the Los Angeles wildfires was a result of climate change, despite reports that the city’s fire hydrants ran out of water and the fire department’s budget was slashed just weeks before the Palisades fire destroyed thousands of homes and burned more than 15,000 acres. As the fires gained national attention, Democratic lawmakers across the country began to claim it was climate change rather than state policies that caused the disastrous fire damage.”
The Washington Examiner similarly reported, “Critics said state policies about brush and debris removal fed the fires and argued Newsom ignored years of warnings to change course and avoid the latest disaster. Some furious Californians also said Newsom’s water policy left firefighters without the tools they needed to stop the crisis.”
What has left-leaning media been saying?
In contrast, left-leaning outlets have highlighted the role of Republican figures, including President-elect Donald Trump, in politicizing the situation, with some arguing that Trump and his allies are using the disaster to attack Democratic leadership.
The Washington Post reported, “As California continues to battle catastrophic wildfires consuming entire neighborhoods and taking lives, state and local officials are also fending off President-elect Donald Trump and his allies’ efforts to blame them for the destruction. Instead of offering words of sympathy or pledges of rebuilding, Trump, his billionaire ally Elon Musk and top Republicans have spent much of the past several days blaming Democratic leadership in the state for the crisis.”
CNN similarly reported, “Walls of fire devoured neighborhoods, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee for their lives. But as a cataclysm fueled by windstorms charred swathes of Los Angeles, Donald Trump spotted an opportunity…The conceit of a state and city inflicting self-defeating environmental policies is a perfect fit for Trump’s narrative that liberal governance in blue states and cities invites chaos, crime and misery.”
The political framing of the wildfire response has varied significantly across news outlets. The Washington Post criticized efforts by Trump and his allies to shift blame to state and local officials, while Fox News focused on California’s policies, particularly regarding fire prevention and water management. CNN suggested that Trump was exploiting the situation to promote a narrative against liberal governance, while The Washington Examiner pointed to state policies on brush and debris removal as contributing factors to the fire’s intensity.
As the investigation into the fire response continues, the debate over the role of Democratic leadership and the politicization of the crisis persists. Both local and state leaders are facing questions about their handling of the disaster, and the national conversation is shaped by differing political perspectives on the causes and responses to the wildfires.