Former Rep. Anthony D'Esposito of New York told Newsmax on Friday that the firefighters battling multiple fires are "dealing with not only empty hydrants, but they're dealing with empty leadership in California."
The fires have burned more than 12,000 homes and other structures since Tuesday, when they first began popping up around a densely populated, 25-mile expanse north of downtown Los Angeles. No cause has been identified yet for the largest fires.
At least 10 people have been killed, and officials said they expected that number to rise as cadaver dogs go through leveled neighborhoods to assess the devastation to an area larger than San Francisco. Officials on Friday set up a center where people could report those missing. Roughly 150,000 people remained under evacuation orders, and the fires have consumed about 56 square miles.
D'Esposito said during an appearance on "American Agenda" that much of the disaster "could have been avoided."
"And it seems as if the so-called leaders in California just have absolutely no answers. President Trump warned the people of California and Gavin Newsom specifically that this could be an issue and that it could be avoided."
"But Gov. Newsom decided to on the side of caution, I guess, and wanted to make sure that he saved fish instead of saved the lives of the people of California," he said.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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