California fires: Trump issues MAJOR disaster declaration as DEADLY fires plague state
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has issued a “major disaster declaration” in response to the deadliest wildfires to ever plague the state of California.
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Tweeting, Trump said: “I just approved an expedited request for a major disaster declaration for the State of California. Wanted to respond quickly in order to alleviate some of the incredible suffering going on. I am with you all the way. God Bless all of the victims and families affected.”
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The wildfires are the deadliest to ever strike the state of California, with the revised death toll at 42.
A total of six more people were confirmed dead in the Camp Fire in the north of the state, taking the toll there to 29.
That fire now equals the deadliest on record in California - the 1933 Griffith Park disaster in Los Angeles.
Hundreds of people are still unaccounted for as their increasingly desperate relatives scour land burnt to a cinder in the hope of finding their loved ones.
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Families have taken to social media to attempt to reach out to people who may have seen their relatives.
The Woolsey Fire claimed two lives in the south of the state as it decimated beach resorts including Malibu.
An estimated 250,000 people have been displaced from their homes as three major infernos ravage the Golden State.
Trump’s latest intervention comes after he was criticised for his initial response.
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He tweeted on Saturday: “There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor.
“Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests.
“Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!”
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He doubled down on Sunday in another tweet, again blaming forest management, saying: “With proper forest management, we can stop the devastation constantly going on in California.”
The comments attracted controversy, and prominent members of the firefighting community were quick to criticise the firebrand Republican.
Weighing in on the debate, Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said: “His comments are reckless and insulting to the firefighters and people being affected.”