{"id":2390810,"date":"2025-01-15T18:11:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T23:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blame-game-for-california-fires-grows-as-lawsuits-and-recall-efforts-gain-steam-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-15T18:15:46","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T23:15:46","slug":"blame-game-for-california-fires-grows-as-lawsuits-and-recall-efforts-gain-steam-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blame-game-for-california-fires-grows-as-lawsuits-and-recall-efforts-gain-steam-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Blame game for California fires grows as lawsuits and recall efforts gain steam &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fblame-game-for-california-fires-grows-as-lawsuits-and-recall-efforts-gain-steam-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2390810&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>the article discusses the worsening situation in Southern\u2064 California \u2063due to devastating wildfires that have resulted in at least 25 \u200bfatalities and the\u200d displacement\u2062 of over 100,000 residents. As investigations continue, blame is being directed towards \u200dvarious parties, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, amid growing lawsuits\u2063 and \u2062recall movements. Criticisms have been aimed at state leaders for inadequate planning and management\u200b of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/were-off-track-heres-how-republicans-plan-to-move-the-needle-on-climate-change\/\" title=\"\u2018We\u2019re Off Track\u2019: Here\u2019s How Republicans Plan To Move The Needle On Climate Change\">fire-prone areas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>President-elect Donald Trump \u200dhas \u2062exploited the crisis politically, attacking Newsom\u200c for \u200cenvironmental\u200c policies, even though \u2062his claims have been\u2062 debunked. Newsom has rejected the notion of conditional\u2064 federal aid for wildfire recovery, calling such \u2063ideas &#8220;un-American.&#8221;\u2063 Meanwhile, Bass faces backlash for her absence during \u200dthe fires and recent budget cuts \u200cto the\u2062 fire department, which <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">officials suggest hindered response efforts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Lawsuits \u200cagainst utility companies, such as Southern California \u2062edison, are emerging as\u200d residents seek accountability for the fires.\u2062 The article highlights the ongoing complexities and political ramifications\u200c surrounding the fires and the responses \u2062from both state leaders and utility providers. Local fire \u200dofficials\u200c and citizens alike are demanding better management practices to\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senators-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-rail-safety-after-ohio-train-crash\/\" title=\"Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Improve Rail Safety After Ohio Train Crash\">prevent future disasters<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Blame game for California fires grows as lawsuits and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/strategist-for-ousted-ca-governor-gray-davis-advising-gavin-newsom-set-up-war-room-to-smear-anyone-associated-with-recall-efforts\/\" title=\"Strategist For Ousted CA Governor Gray Davis Advising Gavin Newsom, Set Up \u2018War Room\u2019 to Smear Anyone Associated with Recall Efforts\">recall efforts gain steam<\/a><\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1935390\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>As Southern <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"California\">California<\/a> continues to reel from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/3284106\/what-ignited-deadly-california-wildfires\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"devastating fires\">devastating fires<\/a>&nbsp;that have engulfed entire <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/los-angeles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Los Angeles County \">Los Angeles County <\/a>neighborhoods, the question on everyone&rsquo;s mind is what sparked them and who is to blame.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Investigators&nbsp;with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have not determined a cause just&nbsp;yet. But what they find&nbsp;could hold dire economic, political, and financial consequences.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fire Crews battle the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/Jae C. Hong)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The crisis created by the fires, which have killed at least 25 people and displaced more than 100,000 from their homes, is far from over.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Lawsuits have already started to pile up, insurance companies have been vilified, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Gov. Gavin Newsom\">Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/a> (D-CA) and Los Angeles <a href=\"https:\/\/mayor.lacity.gov\/about-mayor-karen-bass\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Democratic Mayor Karen Bass\">Democratic Mayor Karen Bass<\/a> have not only been taken to task, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/3285906\/newsom-bass-recall-efforts-gain-momentum-fallout-california-wildfires\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"recall efforts\">recall efforts<\/a> have started to gain momentum. State leaders have also been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/restoring-america\/faith-freedom-self-reliance\/3286337\/california-wildfires-misplaced-priorities-city-officials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"slammed\">slammed<\/a> for refusing to take necessary steps to reduce the amount of fire-prone vegetation near large population areas.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of the day, none of the key players want to be holding the&nbsp;bag in what is one of the worst disasters to rock the area.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"President-elect Donald Trump\">President-elect Donald Trump<\/a> got into the action pretty&nbsp;quickly, turning the still-evolving disaster into a political opportunity to bash Newsom, his longtime political enemy, and blame state leaders for disastrous environmental policies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/environmentalism-obsessed-la-doesnt-have-enough-water-to-fight-fire-effectively\/\" title=\"Environmentalism-Obsessed LA Doesn&#039;t Have Enough Water to Fight Fire Effectively\">water restoration declaration put<\/a> 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,&rdquo; Trump posted on his Truth Social website. &ldquo;He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn&rsquo;t work), but didn&rsquo;t care about the people of California.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s post was quickly debunked because the fires had nothing to do with how much water moved from Northern to Southern California. The weak water pressure was due to demands on urban water systems that were designed for fighting house fires, not enormous, out-of-control wildfires.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Still, Trump&rsquo;s comments exposed Newsom to attacks and several Republicans in Congress vowed that any federal relief given to the struggling state would have conditions placed on them.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) claimed that &ldquo;state and local leaders were derelict in their duty in many respects,&rdquo; citing what he called mistakes in &ldquo;water resources management&rdquo; and &ldquo;forest management.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said he would not vote for aid &ldquo;unless we see a dramatic change in how they&rsquo;re going to be handling these things in the future.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Newsom pushed back on the claims federal aid should be conditional, calling it &ldquo;un-American.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not meeting Democrats, I&rsquo;m not meeting Republicans. I&rsquo;m not meeting Californians,&rdquo; Newsom said in an interview on MSNBC that he posted on X. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m meeting American citizens desperate in need. And what they need is empathy, care, compassion, understanding. They need support, not rhetoric, not strings attached.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Conditioning aid is simply un-American. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ypdixMqEPI\">pic.twitter.com\/ypdixMqEPI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GavinNewsom\/status\/1879399523459748169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Newsom also slammed Republicans for &ldquo;politicizing this tragic moment&rdquo; and has managed to secure cover for himself and his policies for the moment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The same can&rsquo;t be said about Bass.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Bass was halfway around the world when the fires broke out despite knowing that her&nbsp;city faced a major wildfire risk due to seasonal high winds and dry conditions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Bass, who was in Ghana as part of a U.S. delegation to watch a presidential inauguration, appeared to have been posing for photos when the fires ignited. She not only broke a promise she made on the campaign trail not to travel abroad while in office, but when she got back, she tried to shift the blame.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Bass was put on blast by Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley for cutting the department&rsquo;s budget by millions. In April, Bass proposed cutting $23 million from the fire department&rsquo;s budget. That number was lowered to $17.6 million by the City Council, which came out to about a 2% decrease from the fire department&rsquo;s 2023-2024 budget.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Bass has been busy trying to convince people that the cuts didn&rsquo;t affect the department&rsquo;s response to the fires. She has also pointed to the unprecedented winds she claimed supercharged the fires.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Local fire officials, while agreeing that the wild winds contributed to the fires being&nbsp;so hard to control, also maintain that the budget cuts Bass proposed hindered their ability to respond.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Time will tell if the bad optics and budget slashes will doom Bass&rsquo;s bid for another term or kill her future political aspirations altogether.<\/p>\n<p>Utility companies have also been faulted for the fires.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>On Monday,&nbsp;Evangeline Iglesias filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison, claiming the local utility company sparked the fire that burned down her Altadena home after ignoring warnings to shut down its power equipment.<\/p>\n<p>It is believed that Iglesias&rsquo;s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, will be the first of many that put the blame on the utility companies operating in the area.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fire agencies have already said they are investigating links between SCE and a still-burning Hurst Fire.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>SCE spokeswoman Gabriela Ornelas issued the standard statement, saying the company&rsquo;s &ldquo;hearts remain with our communities during the devastating fires,&rdquo; but was quick to add that &ldquo;the cause of the fire continues to be under investigation.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Iglesias&rsquo;s lawyer, Ali Moghaddas, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/nation\/2025\/01\/13\/wildfire-lawsuit-california-utility-company\/77682312007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"said\">said<\/a> the lawsuit was filed so quickly to preserve potential evidence that could help reconstruct the scene later in court.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>SCE and other power companies operating in the area have issued statements saying they followed California Public Utilities Commission guidelines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>SCE&rsquo;s parent company&rsquo;s CEO, Pedro Pizarro, <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/officials-investigate-role-utility-companies-la-fires\/story?id=117631794\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"told ABC News\">told ABC News<\/a> that they have &ldquo;not been able to get up close to the equipment yet because firefighters have not deemed the area safe for entry.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As soon as we can get&nbsp;close to it, we&rsquo;ll inspect and we&rsquo;ll be transparent with the public,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Moghaddas has pushed back on Pizarro&rsquo;s response about being transparent, claiming the company hasn&rsquo;t been honest about which lines and transmission towers were de-energized during the peak of the winds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They had the tools to try to mitigate the possibility of this wildfire, and instead, they chose to ignore those warnings,&rdquo; he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/01\/13\/g-s1-42603\/lawsuits-allege-power-company-involvement-in-la-wildfires\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"told NPR\">told NPR<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, SCE has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements related to seven other wildfires.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If utilities are to blame for the blazes, it could also decimate California&rsquo;s $21 billion wildfire fund that is split equally between shareholders and utility customers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is the most profound test case that the fund will potentially be up against,&rdquo; Christopher Holden, a former Democratic legislator who sponsored the bill that created the fund, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2025-01-15\/why-edison-likely-to-survive-even-if-its-lines-caused-horrific-l-a-firestorms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"told \">told <\/a>the <em>Los Angeles Times<\/em>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Holden, who had to evacuate his Pasadena home, told the news outlet what was unfolding is &ldquo;a new frontier.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/2864211\/white-house-major-sanctions-russia-navalny-death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\" \"> <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It was a new frontier when we wrote the bill &mdash; and now, just five years later, we&rsquo;re going through another frontier,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The sheer damage caused by the ongoing fires has raised questions not only about the fund&rsquo;s ability to cover the damage from this year&rsquo;s fire but whether it has enough money to bail out utilities in the future.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1935390\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1935390\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blame for California fires intensifies amid lawsuits and recalls<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2390811,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25014242614115.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[44508,48180,7976,48480],"class_list":["post-2390810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-blame-game","tag-california-fires","tag-lawsuits","tag-recall-efforts"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25014242614115.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2390810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2390810"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2390810\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2390814,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2390810\/revisions\/2390814"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2390811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2390810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2390810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2390810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}