President Trump sounded off on California Gov. Gavin Newsom after multiple fires ripped through Southern California. “Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” Trump said on Truth Social. “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. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!” he added. The fast-moving fire erupted in Pacific Palisades, burning approximately 3,000 acres by Tuesday evening. “California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as the Palisades Fire threatens more than 13,000 structures and displaces approximately 30,000 people, prompting expanded evacuations across Los Angeles County,” Rawsalerts wrote. #BREAKING: California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as the Palisades Fire threatens more than 13,000 structures and displaces approximately 30,000 people, prompting expanded evacuations across Los Angeles County. pic.twitter.com/TvnPkqfuhl — R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 8, 2025 President Trump previously warned Newsom that terrible forest management could cause the scenario currently unfolding near Los Angeles. FLASHBACK: President Trump warned about this scenario happening in California and placed the blame on Governor Newsom. pic.twitter.com/s5kuaQ3SmN — Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) January 8, 2025 WATCH: FLASHBACK: Trump stood next to Gavin Newsom and stressed the importance of proper forest management after wildfires swept through California in 2018 pic.twitter.com/tE7ds4mxij — johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) January 8, 2025 Daily Mail reports: President-elect Donald Trump had previously warned California Governor Gavin Newsom that he needed to manage the state’s forests better to prevent fires. In a visit to The Golden State in November of 2018, the then president and newly elected governor both met following the devastating Camp Fire. Speaking during their visit to Skyway Villa Mobile Home and RV Park in Paradise, California, Trump warned ‘you’ve got to take care of the floors’. Footage of their exchange has resurfaced online amid calls for Newsom to stand down as wildfires ravage parts of Los Angeles, amid complains about fire hydrants not having water and power lines not being shut off. In the 2018 clip, he says: ‘Get all of this cleaned out and protected. You’ve gotta take care of the floors. The floors of the forest. ‘You look at other countries where they do it differently and its a whole different story. I was with the president of Finland and they spend a lot of time raking and cleaning.’ In 2021 Newsom signed a bill directing over $15 billion to combat wildfires, drought and other climate challenges facing California. That climate package dedicated nearly $1 billion exclusively to help prevent wildfires, after the two most destructive on record happened within one year of each other. In addition to the Pacific Palisades inferno, fires also devastated Altadena, Pasadena, and Sylmar. WATCH: Ed Caruso who is a real estate developer in the area says “There is NO WATER IN THE FIRE HYDRANTS & NO RESOURCES” We have a Mayor out of the country, we look like a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY, complete mismanagement and we have brush mitigation that should have been done decades ago.… pic.twitter.com/9sbVJYGmeF — Johnny St.Pete (@JohnMcCloy) January 8, 2025 NEW: Major parts of Pacific Palisades has essentially been wiped off the map as the sun rises in Los Angeles Countless homes and businesses have been turned to ash And the fire is still 0% contained. pic.twitter.com/bSJxj3diZe — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 8, 2025 From the Los Angeles Times: More than a thousand homes, businesses and other buildings have burned and at least two people are dead in wildfires scorching communities across Los Angeles County, making this one of the most destructive firestorms to hit the region in memory. In Pacific Palisades, the Palisades fire had charred more than 5,000 acres as of Wednesday morning, burning down to Pacific Coast Highway where it engulfed homes along the iconic stretch. About 1,000 structures, including many homes, have been destroyed in the fire, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during a news conference Wednesday morning. Marrone said that while there have been no fatalities in the Palisades fire, officials have seen “a high number of significant injuries to residents who did not evacuate in addition to first responders who were on the fire line.” The Eaton fire, which broke out Tuesday evening, had burned more than 10,000 acres near Altadena and Pasadena, whipped by gusts of up to 99 mph in the area, according to the Angeles National Forest. Two people have died in the Eaton fire and several others have been seriously injured. More than 100 structures have been destroyed, Marrone said. The Hurst fire, which spread quickly during high winds overnight in Sylmar, had burned more than 500 acres. The cause of the fires is under investigation. “We woke up to a dark cloud over all of Los Angeles, but it is darkest for those who are most intimately impacted by these fires,” said L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. “It is difficult to process the immensity of the destruction and loss, and we extend our hearts and every resource we have to all of our impacted residents.”

Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz, the No. 4 pick in the 2008 MLB draft, has passed away. He was 37. “We are devastated to learn of the passing of former Major League pitcher Brian Matusz. Matusz, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, spent a majority of his eight seasons with the Orioles. He won his Major League debut on August 4, 2009, as he gave up just one run in five innings. Matusz pitched in 280 regular season games throughout his career, starting in 69 of them,” MLB said in a statement. “He pitched for two Orioles’ Postseason teams (2012 and 2014), making seven total Postseason appearances out of the bullpen. He made his last Major League appearance with the Cubs in 2016. He was 37 years old,” it added. We are devastated to learn of the passing of former Major League pitcher Brian Matusz. Matusz, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, spent a majority of his eight seasons with the Orioles. He won his Major League debut on August 4, 2009, as he gave up just one run in… pic.twitter.com/40nxZP7KDG — MLB (@MLB) January 8, 2025 “Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz. A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate, and always had a smile on his face,” the Baltimore Orioles stated. “Brian’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time,” the team added. Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz. A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he… pic.twitter.com/wNN3WkO8l4 — Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) January 8, 2025 Per ESPN: No cause of death has been disclosed. Matusz, who eventually became a reliever, was most known for his success against Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who went 4-for-29 (.138) with 13 strikeouts in his career against Matusz. He pitched in both the 2012 and 2014 postseasons for the Orioles. Baltimore traded Matusz, who had a 12.00 ERA in seven games, to the Braves in May 2016, and Atlanta released him a week later. He signed with the Cubs, where he pitched in the minors except for the one big league start. His pitching career ended in 2019. Matusz originally was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth round in 2005, but he decided to go to the University of San Diego, where he won West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and was a two-time finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He finished his college career as the school’s all-time leader in strikeouts, with 396. Brian Matusz MLB Debut video because we all need it pic.twitter.com/LvgWRrETUI — Orioles Kangaroo (@ForeverOrioles) January 8, 2025 Ex Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs pitcher Brian Matusz dies suddenly at 37 – cause unknown – 8th Jan 2025 pic.twitter.com/hb392itHBe — “Sudden And Unexpected” (@toobaffled) January 8, 2025 NBC News reports: Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz, a first-round draft pick who won a World Series ring with the Chicago Cubs, was found dead in a Phoenix home, police said Wednesday. A cause of death for the 37-year-old was not immediately revealed. “I can confirm we responded to a dead body call at a home near 44th Street and Campbell Avenue” at about 2:45 p.m. MST on Monday, Phoenix Police Sgt. Phil Krynsky said in a statement to NBC News. “The deceased person found was indeed 37-year-old Brian Matusz. Currently, this incident is being handled as a death investigation.” The left-handed hurler played at St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix before heading to University of San Diego, where he was the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2008. That standout season led him to be the fourth overall pick of that June’s MLB Draft by Baltimore. He was selected just behind recently retired first baseman Eric Hosmer and ahead of No. 5 pick Buster Posey, a likely Hall of Fame catcher for the San Francisco Giants.

Joe Biden used a briefing on the devastating Southern California fires to announce he would be a great-grandfather. “The good news is, I’m a great-grandfather as of today!” Biden said. “So I’ll remember this day for a lot longer,” he added. California Gov. Gavin Newsom applauded next to Biden after the announcement. WATCH: Biden uses a California wildfire briefing to announce he's a great-grandfather — making it all about himself, as usual. Disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/vXYTsiEGqr — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 8, 2025 Multiple fires have ripped through Southern California Tuesday into Wednesday. Tens of thousands of residents have evacuated. The Pacific Palisades fire has burned over 5,000 acres. At least two individuals have died and many others sustained injuries. WATCH: CA WILDFIRE UPDATE:– Two dead, many injured– Tens of thousands of residents forced to evacuate homes– Over 5,000 acres burned in Palisades– Fire in Altadena is at 2,227 acres & remains at 0% containment– Hurst Fire has scorched at least 500 acres pic.twitter.com/YuLQnnB76m — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 8, 2025 Per CBS News: Multiple fires burning in Los Angeles County Wednesday prompted evacuation orders and warnings and damaged more than 1,000 structures. Two people are dead, Los Angeles County Fire Department chief Anthony Marrone said. The Palisades Fire exploded in size as powerful winds hit northwest Los Angeles, forcing the evacuation of at least 30,000 residents in the affluent community of Pacific Palisades. The Eaton, Hurst and Woodley fires are also burning. The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles was first reported at 10:30 a.m. local time Tuesday and has grown to thousands of acres with zero containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CalFire. A second wildfire, the Eaton Fire, broke out Tuesday night in the hills above Altadena, a community in northern Los Angeles County, also prompting evacuation orders. Two people are dead due to the blaze, which burned at least 10,600 acres as of Wednesday morning, according to officials. The Hurst Fire, a third blaze, erupted in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles late Tuesday night and quickly consumed hundreds of acres, CalFire said, forcing some evacuations. The Woodley Fire started early Wednesday morning. There have been “a number of significant injuries” from the fires, according to officials, and tens of thousand of structures are threatened. Fire officials reported 0% containment of the four blazes. WATCH: "This is like a 3rd world country" Rick Caruso says there is 0 water coming out of the fire hydrants. Mayor Bass is in Ghana. pic.twitter.com/GPXmDVvLS1 — End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 8, 2025 This is what’s left of the Pacific Palisades. The mall survived. Most everything else is gone. Homes, apartment complexes… businesses. pic.twitter.com/Vfz721V48J — Jonathan Vigliotti (@JonVigliotti) January 8, 2025 KTLA reports: The Eaton Fire continues to rage in Pasadena, east of Los Angeles, on Wednesday, and officials confirmed that two civilians have died in the blaze and an undetermined number of homes had been destroyed. The fire was first reported at around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive as hurricane-force Santa Ana winds whipped through the region. As of 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, it had exploded to 2,227 acres with no containment. Four hours later, officials with the U.S. Forest Service released an update that stated the blaze had grown to 10,600 acres. L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna described the situation surrounding the Eaton Fire, the second-largest active wildfire in the Los Angeles area, during a Wednesday morning press conference as “very fluid.” WATCH:

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In 2014, Californians overwhelmingly voted to spend $7.5 billion on water storage and reservoirs. Gavin Newsom has not done any of that. Now, there is no water in some fire hydrants as homes and businesses burn down. It’s not a surprise. Newsom doesn’t act in response to voters. The biggest cheerleader for Proposition One was […] The post California Voted for Water Storage and Newsom Did Nothing appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

As fires rage through the Los Angeles area, Kristin M. Crowley, the first woman and lesbian to become Los Angeles Fire Department Chief, is facing harsh criticism for her focus on DEI initiatives instead of a pure meritocracy. Crowley, who was appointed fire chief by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2022, launched a diversity, equity, and inclusion bureau in January 2023, and prepared to implement a three-year plan committing the LAFD to an organization embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion. According to the LAFD, DEI is a top priority for Crowley. “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,” the LAFD website states. “People ask me, ‘What number are you looking for?’” she told a reporter. “I’m not looking for a number; it’s never enough.” She said of including members of the LGBT community, “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.’” In June 2024, Crowley served as grand marshal of the 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.” LA Fire Chief is being hailed as the first female and LGBTQ fire chief in Los Angeles. She says her priority is DEI. Here she is waving a pride flag at a pride parade while dressed in uniform. pic.twitter.com/E2mjsGN2KK — Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 8, 2025 By 2 p.m. EST Wednesday, three fires were raging in the Los Angeles area: the Palisades fire, west of Los Angeles, which had burned roughly 4.5 square miles; the Eaton fire, north of Pasadena, which had burned about 16.6 square miles, and the Hurst fire, in the San Fernando Valley, which had burned roughly 500 acres. Over 70,000 residents were under evacuation orders. Over 250, 000 customers were without power. JOIN THE MOVEMENT IN ’25 WITH 25% OFF DAILYWIRE+ ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS WITH CODE DW25 “By 3 a.m. Wednesday, all fire hydrants in the Palisades area ‘went dry,’ said Janisse Quiñones, chief executive and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the city’s utility,” the Los Angeles Times reported.