A significant wildfire has been sweeping through California for the last three days, consuming over 70,000 acres. Hundreds of firefighters are working to contain the blaze.
A fire known as the “Madre Fire” ignited on Wednesday in San Luis Obispo, a rural county located in central California.
Approximately 200 individuals received evacuation orders as numerous structures faced the imminent threat of fire.
According to an update from Cal Fire on Friday, the blaze has consumed 70,800 acres (28,700 hectares) since Wednesday. In response, over 600 personnel and 40 fire engines have been mobilised to combat the flames.
The current wildfire has become the most significant incident in California this year, following a series of destructive blazes that ravaged large areas of Los Angeles earlier in the year.
This summer marks the inaugural season following President Donald Trump’s declaration to dismantle federal agencies responsible for combating climate-related crises.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Friday that 15 new fires have erupted on federal land within the last 24 hours. He urged the president to prioritise funding for firefighting resources in response to the growing crisis.
In a pointed message on X, Newsom, a Democrat, urged Trump to prioritise funding for federal firefighters and land-management teams in rural communities, criticising the focus on tax cuts for billionaires instead.
“The actions of Trump are putting lives at risk due to a lack of competence.”
A statement released by the governor’s press office on Friday indicated that the Madre Fire is currently situated in a highly isolated area, far removed from residential properties.
The recent outbreak of wildfires follows a series of previous incidents, intensifying concerns about a challenging summer for a state still reeling from the devastating fires that claimed 30 lives in January.
According to UCLA extreme climate events specialist Daniel Swain, Southern California has experienced an atypically dry winter and spring, resulting in already parched vegetation.
This summer has seen intense and widespread heat, with dry brush expected to influence burning conditions as the season progresses significantly, he noted.
Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has implemented budget and personnel reductions at the Forest Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and FEMA, the federal agency responsible for coordinating disaster response efforts.
On Wednesday, Governor Newsom criticised the Republican president for insufficient funding of wildfire prevention initiatives.
“An equivalent commitment of resources is essential, not just rhetoric,” Newsom stated to reporters, highlighting that over fifty per cent of California’s land falls under federal jurisdiction.
