It is hard to point at any one thing. But as we brush the surface of this American tragedy, it is clear that there was a chain of failure, of incompetence, and frankly hubris that created the conditions for this tragedy. Over 12, 000 structures have been lost. As of this writing 25 people have lost their lives. As of January 15, 153,000 were ordered to evacuate with another 166,000 given evacuation warnings.[i] The cost of the fire is presently estimated at $250 billion. Then there is the human factor. How many have been left homeless?
Now, the Left has been quick to point to climate change as the cause for the fires. But the evidence speaks against that. Michael Shellenberger points out that the precipitation pattern has been the same since 1977. Then we find out a few other inconvenient facts regarding the current crisis.
In early January, the National Weather Service warned that conditions were ripe for a major wildfire. “The National Weather Service warned of severe wildfires in Southern California due to life-threatening Santa Ana windstorm and severely dry conditions.”- A local meteorologist had issued the same warning the day before.
- The Los Angeles Mayor and LA County Fire Chief were both aware of the conditions. The Mayor took a trip to Ghana. Governor Newsome was also aware of the threat.
- No preventive steps were taken.
- The budget for the fire department had been cut by $17 million and another cut of $48 million was being contemplated.
- The reservoir closest to the major Palisades fire was empty due to environmental reasons.
- There was little to no water in the hydrants.
- Despite the warnings, no efforts were made to clear away the extremely flammable brush around the buildings.[ii]
- “HUNDREDS of emergency vehicles, many of them Fire Engines, many others Hook & Ladder Trucks, are all just sitting . . . . waiting to be repaired. Millions of dollars worth of equipment meant to save lives and property, sidelined, unusable, helping no one. Seems like everyone involved in LA & CA state government does their job poorly and no one cares….LAFD Chief Crowley testified some time ago that roughly 20% of LAFD’s fleet was out of service. In recent remarks, she said the $17M+ budget cut caused the department to lose civilian mechanics who repaired its out-of-service vehicles.”[iii]
- The LA Times reported that fire officials held back 1.000 firefighters and sent “just five of the 40 available fire engines” for a second shift.[iv]
- Los Angeles police caught many looters taking advantage of the situation. Two were apprehended at Kamala Harris’ residence and released as was a homeless man who had started one of the fires.[v]
- Armed LA residents are now patrolling their neighborhoods in violation of evacuation orders.[vi]
- It has now been confirmed that “LA Fire Dept. supplies were sent to Ukraine over the past 2 years.”[vii] [viii]
- Lucky for the citizens of LA, the LAFD continues to advance toward its’ goal of an increased DEI footprint.
James Howard Kunstler pointed to the fact that it was great gain for those who wish to take down America. The devastation is that great that it could take decades to rebuild – or repurpose the property destroyed. Michael Shellenberger spoke along the same lines. He referenced the guilty self-loathing culture that has taken over California and much of liberal America. It has become a shame to be White, an indictment to be well-off. He framed it in what he believes is the thinking of the self-accusing Left. “So-called progressives finally achieved what they supposedly warned of but in truth wished for: the eviction of the affluent descendants of colonizers, the incineration of their homes, and the destruction of a city that, more than any other, represents our bloody history of white supremacy and conquest.”[ix]
[i] Where are mandatory evacuation orders for California wildfires?, USA Today, January 15, 2025
[ii] Tucker Carlson and Michael Shellenberger Break Down the California Fires, TCN, January 12, 2025
[iii] “Hundreds” of Los Angeles Fire Trucks, Ambulances, Rescue Vehicles Sitting in LAFD Repair Yard – UNREPAIRED,
Hal Turner Radio, January 14, 2025
[iv] LA Times: Fire Bosses Held Back Most Engines, 1,000 Firefighters, Independent Sentinel, January 15, 2025
[v] Tucker Carlson and Michael Shellenberger Break Down the California Fires, TCN, January 12, 2025
[vi] Armed LA Residents Patrol Neighborhoods In Violation Of Evacuation Orders, Zero Hedge, January 16, 2025
[vii] CONFIRMED! LA Fire Dept. Supplies Were Sent To Ukraine Over The Past 2 Years, Banned Video, January 10, 2025
[viii] Tucker Carlson and Michael Shellenberger Break Down the California Fires, TCN, January 12, 2025
[ix] James Howard Kunstler, For Those In The USA With An Interest In Collapsing America, The Los Angeles Fire Is The Gift That Will
Keep On Giving, ANP, January 13, 2025
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