LA wildfires: A woke apocalypse years in the making
As of 10 PM Wednesday, the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles have reportedly killed five people and destroyed over 10,000 structures. At least 130,000 residents have been forced to evacuate as four major blazes, driven by 100 mph winds, sweep through huge swathes of LA County.
In addition to the Eaton and Hurst fires, the Pacific Palisades fire has destroyed 1,000 structures including the homes of several celebrities. The Sunset fire is threatening Hollywood and its iconic spots such as the Hollywood Bowl and the Hollywood Walk of Fame while raging toward the Hollywood Hills, another habitat of the rich and famous.
As firefighters try desperately to grapple with the flames, social media users are pointing to several policies that might have contributed to the Democrat stronghold’s devastation.
Environmentalism
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday accused California Governor Gavin Newsom — both on social media and at a press conference — of “incompetence,” saying Newsom chose to divert water to the Pacific Ocean to save fish rather than allocate it to California residents.
“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Now the ultimate price is being paid.”
California’s water supply depends partly on rainfall in northern parts of the state, the New York Times notes. In response to demands by environmentalists and with the Biden administration’s support, Newsom has been routing millions of gallons of that water to protect the delta smelt, a California endangered species.
“I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA!” Trump wrote in another post. “He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!”
Firefighters reported early Wednesday morning that fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades had run dry, a fact confirmed by the LA Department of Water and Power (DWP).
Trump has been raising the alarm about the threat posed by California’s environmental policies. As recently as October, Trump told podcaster Joe Rogan that California has access to plenty of water but is squandering vast amounts on the smelt. He also criticized the state’s poor forest management, which he said is caused by environmental policies.
“Billions of dollars a year they spend on forest fires,” Trump explained to Rogan. “And you know, there’s a case with the environment. They’re not allowed to rake their forests because you’re not allowed to touch it. And all they have to do is clean their forests, meaning rake it up. Get rid of the leaves, leaves that are sitting there for five years, and get rid of the trees that are fallen.”
“Well, certainly get rid of the dead fall,” chimed in Rogan.
During his first term, Trump repeatedly warned Newsom that the state’s poor forest management risked out-of-control wildfires.
Nevertheless, in April 2021 Newsom trashed Trump for being a “sparring partner” on the issue of forest management and praised the Biden administration, which he said was a “working partner.”
DEI
Observers have also criticized the Los Angeles Fire Department’s obsessive focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), which often sacrifices competence.
When LAFD Chief Kristin M. Crowley was appointed in 2022 by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti, she was hailed as the first female and lesbian to hold the post. Crowley immediately made DEI a top priority, even establishing a DEI department in January 2023. She appointed Kristine Larson, a black lesbian who reportedly earns nearly $400,000 a year, to head the department.
Speaking to a reporter about hiring LGBT people, Crowley said: “People ask me, ‘What number are you looking for?’ I’m not looking for a number. It’s never enough. They feel included, they feel valued, and they feel part of a cohesive team . . . That just kind of opens the door of people who thought, ‘Wow, I didn’t even know that that was an opportunity for me.’”
The LAFD also boasts its first lesbian assistant chief, Kristina Kepner, who studied diversity at Harvard. Jamie Brown, another lesbian, is celebrated as the LAFD’s first LGBTQ+ Training and Support Bureau commander.
“Creating, supporting, and promoting a culture that values diversity, inclusion, and equity while striving to meet and exceed the expectations of the communities are Chief Crowley’s priorities,” said the LAFD’s website.
In June, Crowley served as grand marshal of the annual LA Pride Parade.
“This feels like a whole other level, especially being part of the parade as a grand marshal of the Los Angeles Fire Department,” she said. “It’s very humbling. I have been proud to participate in the pride parade over the past few years, but this is extra special—being able to be out front and represent the department and our community as a whole.”
A racial equity plan adopted by the LAFD in 2021 declared that the department would focus on hiring based on race and similar non-meritorious factors.
“The strength of any organization rests in its greatest resource—its people; and LAFD leadership cannot accomplish any of the racial equity and inclusion goals without the employees to accomplish the work and embrace the vision while being guided by competent leadership,” the LAFD racial equity plan states. “It has been concluded and realized that the more talent, skills, perspectives, insight, knowledge, and abilities acquired through racial equity and inclusion, the stronger and more effective and competitive the organization has become.”
Eight years ago, comedian and podcaster Adam Corolla testified about his experience being turned down for a job at the LAFD because he was White and male.
"Geez. I want to talk about my White privilege so badly," he said. "I graduated North Hollywood High with a 1.7 GPA and could not find a job. I walked to a fire station. I was 19 and living in the garage of my family home and my mom was on welfare and food stamps. I said, ‘Can I get a job as a fireman?’ and they said, ‘No, because you’re not Black, Hispanic, or a woman and we’ll see you in about 7 years.’"
Corolla said he went back seven years later to reapply.
"I had a young woman of color standing behind me in line, and I said to her, ‘Just out of curiosity, when did you sign up to become a fireman?’ . . . she said, ‘Wednesday.’ That is an example of my White privilege."
Financial mismanagement
Critics are also blaming LA’s financial mismanagement for crippling the LAFD’s ability to contain the inferno.
LA Mayor Karen Bass, praised for being the first woman and second Black person to hold the post, cut the LAFD’s budget by $17.6 million last year. LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley wrote in a memo that “the reduction has severely limited the department’s capacity to respond to large-scale emergencies.”
In the meantime, employees at the LA Department of Water and Power (DWP) are among the highest-paid officials in the city. The DWP is responsible, among other things, for ensuring fire hydrants do not run dry.
According to OpentheBooks, DWP CEO Janisse Quiñones rakes in $750,000 a year. For context, Governor Newsom’s salary is just under $250,000. LA officials maintained that higher salaries are necessary to attract talent who can reach the DWP’s green energy targets, according to the Daily Caller.
DWP Load Dispatcher Mark Chambers made $857,458 in 2023, including overtime and bonuses. Kenneth McCrank, another DWP load dispatcher, raked in nearly $787,000. Gary Carivau, an electrical services manager, earned over $782,000 that same year. William Santana, an electric distribution mechanic, made $763,675, while Senior Electrical Repair Supervisor Jason Contreras earned $763,195. Gregory Martin, an electric distribution mechanic supervisor, took home more than $740,000.
