President Donald Trump landed in Northern California Saturday to tour the damage wrought by the state’s worst-ever wildfire, pressing his argument that the state’s forests must be managed more aggressively to prevent future disasters.
Trump stepped off Air Force One at Beale Air Force Base near Marysville, where he was greeted by Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. They helicoptered to Chico, where hundreds of residents gathered to watch, many of them wearing masks to protect them from the smoky air.
“We have to do management, maintenance,†said Trump, wearing a dark windbreaker and a camouflage-style “USA†ball cap. “We’ll also be working with environmental groups. I think everybody’s seen the light.â€. The visit came nearly a week after Trump infuriated California leaders and firefighters by blaming them for the damage in what has since become the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history. At least 71 are confirmed dead and nearly 10,000 homes have been destroyed by the Camp Fire. More than 1,000 people are still reported missing.
“There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor,†Trump tweeted last Saturday. “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!â€
https://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/fires/article221810050.html