Democratic lawmakers on the US West Coast criticized President Donald Trump for ignoring the climate change ahead of his visit to California.
In the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, fires destroyed approximately 2 m hectares (5 m acres ) of land, killing nearly 35 people since early August.
The governor of Washington labeled climate change a “blowtorch over our states,” while Trump, a climate change skeptic blamed the catastrophe on bad management.
Meanwhile, the president will get the briefings on the fires on Monday by the emergency crew fighting the fire. This will take place on his trip to McClellan park just outside of Sacramento.
What’s the latest on the West Coast?
In California, with about 15 deaths since August 15, officials on Sunday announced that firefighters worked to suppress 29 large wildfires throughout the state.
They cautioned that Monday’s powerful southern winds and low humidity forecast might bring an intensified fire danger. Besides, it could possibly affect the North Complex Fire, which burned 106,000 hectares so far.
The US National Weather Service already released a “red flag warning” for other West Coast regions like Jackson County, Oregon, where hundreds of homes have been burned by the Almeda Fire.
More
- Death Toll Rises In US As Wildfires Continue In West Coast States
- Ten per cent of Oregon told to evacuate as US West wildfires kill 24
The Oregon Emergency Management Office reported on Sunday that the state’s firefighters were grappling to control over 30 active wildfires. Meanwhile, the biggest of these fires was about 89 km (55 miles) wide.
In the past week at least 10 people died in Oregon. Likewise, officials reported the missing of hundreds of residents. They also cautioned on the possibility of an increased death rate.
What are the politicians saying?
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden criticized Mr. Trump of being a “climate arsonist”. Besides, on Monday, he warned an event in Delaware that his rival will see “all of America ablaze” if he remains in the White House for another four years.
Moreover, Oregon Governor Kate Brown claimed that her state was experiencing a “perfect firestorm.”
“We witnessed tremendous winds. We also saw cold, hot temperatures. And, of course, we have a landscape that has seen 30 years of drought,” she informed CBS on Sunday.
“This is really the bellwether for climate change on the West Coast, and this is a wake-up call for us all to do everything in our capacity to combat climate change.”
Governor of Washington, Jay Inslee dubbed the situation as”apocalyptic.”
“It is maddening right now that, when we have this cosmic threat to our communities, with the whole West Coast of the United States on fire, to have a president to oppose that these are not just wildfires, these are climate fires,” he said to ABC.
