As Biden, Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass cling to their jobs, they divulge the real reason Los Angeles’ fire hydrants were dry when the fire broke out

Joe Biden claimed Los Angeles’ fire hydrants ran dry not because of a water shortage, but because deadly wildfires cut off power to water pumps.

As of Thursday, six people had died, more than 10,000 buildings had been destroyed, nearly 400,000 customers across the state were without power, and more than 180,000 people had been evacuated in one of the most destructive fires in county history. I am doing it.

Systemic flaws in the deep blue city have led many to wonder how things got out of hand and call for Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign. .

While many people were furious that firefighters couldn’t get water, Biden said the problem was self-inflicted to avoid further spread of the fires.

“What I learned from talking to the governor is that there is concern that we may also be experiencing a water shortage,” he said at a news conference Thursday.

“The reality is, understandably, the power company shut off the power because they were worried that the power lines carrying the energy would be blown down, causing more fires.”

“When that was done, it cut off the generating capacity to pump water, which caused the hydrants to run out of water.”

Biden said Cal Fire and other state agencies are bringing in generators to rectify the situation.

He added that Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, is deploying generators to compensate for the lack of water from fire hydrants.

Biden’s news conference came as a new apocalyptic fire tore through the West Hills, prompting emergency evacuation orders for the wealthy suburbs of Calabasas and Hidden Hills, home to the Kardashian family.

New blazes prompted evacuations in and around Los Angeles on Thursday, but firefighters, aided by calm winds, showed the first signs of success in fighting off the region’s deadly and devastating wildfires. However, at the same time, the enormity of the damage began to become clear.

Heroic first responders were alerted to a new fire dubbed the “Kenneth Fire” in the upper Los Angeles-Ventura County border. The fire quickly spread through the West Hills, invading homes in nearby Calabasas and Hidden Hills.

Stunning drone footage highlights the unprecedented scale of damage across Southern California, once home to grand mansions and million-dollar celebrity residences.

The Kenneth Fire started in the late afternoon in the San Fernando Valley near the West Hills area near Ventura County. The evacuation order targeted parts of Ventura County and Los Angeles County.

The fast-moving Kenneth Fire has already engulfed 700 acres and is threatening the Malibu Canyon area north of Highway 101 near Calabasas, home to Kourtney Kardashian and Will Smith. Kim and Khloe Kardashian live nearby in Hidden Hills.

Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued as firefighters drop water bombs from the air to extinguish a fire caused by strong Santa Ana winds.

Roads out of Calabasas are already congested and traffic jams continue as locals heed warnings and abandon their homes.

Residents across Southern California have been warned for several days to pack bags full of important documents and belongings and have them ready for quick access in case of an emergency.

In the picturesque Pacific Palisades, dozens of blocks were flattened to smoldering rubble. Only the outlines of the houses and chimneys remained. In Malibu, only blackened palm trees remained atop the rubble of what once stood a beach house.

At least five churches, one synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks, and grocery stores were lost.

The government has not yet released details on the amount of damage or the number of buildings destroyed.

As of Thursday, six people were confirmed dead in the fire, but Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna called for “patience” regarding the official death toll.

“At this point, frankly, we don’t know yet,” he said. “I think the death toll will be higher. I hope I’m wrong.”

About 180,000 people across Los Angeles are under mandatory evacuation orders, and another 200,000 people are on alert and warned to consider fleeing their homes.

Los Angeles County officials announced Thursday afternoon that an evacuation alert for residents near the Kenneth Fire in West Hills was mistakenly sent countywide.

This alert was only for residents of Calabasas and Agoura Hills.

The damage caused by the two largest fires, the Pacific Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, is immeasurable. Officials said up to 10,000 structures were destroyed.

AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impacts, on Thursday increased its estimate of damage and economic losses to $135 billion to $150 billion.

The company had previously estimated that the damage could reach $57 billion.

Already, 600 military personnel have arrived from the California National Guard with equipment to assist local authorities. They brought in 10 rotorcraft and two C-130 aircraft to fight the fire.

As of Thursday, about 400,000 customers across the state were without power, according to the tracker PowerOutage.us.

Officials say nearly 180,000 residents are under evacuation orders.

The fire tore through the area, turning the picturesque neighborhood into a smoldering place of ash.

Mr. Biden’s news conference was an attempt to gain some control over the disaster, which is largely blamed on California’s Democratic leaders.

President Donald Trump accused Newsom of failing to prepare for the devastating wildfires that are causing untold damage across Los Angeles.

Gov. Gavin Newscome said millions of gallons of water from excess rain and snowmelt from the north will be allowed to flow into many areas of California each day, including areas where the fires are currently burning. refused to sign the Water Restoration Declaration submitted before him. In a practically apocalyptic way.

Newsom criticized President Trump for insisting that he could always request water flow into California, but that he was not doing so intentionally.

“There is no such document as a Water Restoration Proclamation. It is pure fiction,” a spokesperson for Mr. Newsom wrote.

“The governor’s focus is not on politics but on protecting people and making sure our firefighters have all the resources they need.”

Meanwhile, Basu has faced intense criticism for being in Ghana. to Attending the West African country’s presidential inauguration on TuesdayAfter meteorologists warned that a “recipe for fire” was on track to hit Los Angeles.

She has dismissed calls for her resignation over her handling of the devastating bushfires.

Bass tried to cut the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget by about $23 million in 2024, but settled for a $17.6 million cut.

“My primary focus, and the focus of all of us here, is that we have to protect lives, save lives, save homes,” she said at a news conference Thursday.

“Rest assured, once it’s done, once we’re safe and lives have been saved, we’ll investigate what worked and what didn’t work and hold every agency, department, and individual accountable to either fix it or take responsibility.” We will definitely conduct an evaluation to ask questions.” etc.

A number of celebrities have taken to social media accounts to criticize Bass and the city over its response to the fire.

“The city of LA wants everyone to evacuate, but there’s total traffic gridlock and not a single traffic cop on the streets,” Sarah Michelle Gellar said on her Instagram.

“We pay the highest taxes in California, and our fire hydrant was empty,” actress Sarah Foster said.

“Our plants were overgrown and the brush was not mowed. Our reservoirs were emptied by the governor because tribal leaders wanted to save the fish.

Our fire department’s budget has been cut by the mayor. But thankfully, drug addicts have access to drug kits. resign. Your far left policies have destroyed our nation. And our party too. ”

Former Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy also expressed his displeasure on social media.

“Fifth largest economy on earth. Firefighters didn’t have enough water pressure to do their job?! Are you kidding me? You can’t believe the taxes we pay for third world infrastructure. I can’t do it?! Come on.

Actor James Woods also slammed the mayor, blaming her and California Governor Gavin Newsom for the fires.

“These fires are not due to ‘climate change,’ you ignorant bastards. It’s because liberal idiots like you elect liberal idiots like Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass.

“One side does not understand fire protection management in the first place, and the other cannot fill the reservoir,” he wrote.

Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes, Paris Hilton, James Woods, and Billy Crystal and his wife Janice all claimed to have seen their homes engulfed in smoke during the Palisades fire.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Christine Crowley believes the fire started accidentally in a backyard around 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.

She told reporters that the fires are “spreading faster than we’ve ever seen before…The current situation is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.” spoke.

Twenty people were arrested on suspicion of raiding homes in parts of Southern California during the fires.

On Thursday, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Berger said the Sheriff’s Department has now arrested 20 people on suspicion of looting or robbery.

The rising number of cases has prompted many Pacific Palisades residents to hire private security companies to monitor their homes.

More than 1,500 California firefighters are tasked with putting out wind-fueled wildfires, while the California National Guard prepares to send in more military personnel to help.