President Biden made brief, off-key remarks Wednesday after meeting with fire officials about the raging wildfires raging in the Los Angeles area.
“We stand ready to do whatever it takes to contain the fires, help with recovery, and ensure a return to normalcy,” said Biden, who was there to sign the disaster declaration with California Governor Gavin Newsom. There is,” he said. , said.
“It's going to be a hell of a long road. It's going to take time. But as long as you need us, the government will be here. Give us everything you need. You asked for it and you still don't get it.” Is there anything that hasn't been done yet?'' he continued.
Newsom thanked Biden for the federal government's support in his fight.
California wildfires rage across Los Angeles County, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes
“It is impossible for me to express my gratitude in words,” he said.
Biden then took the meeting in an unexpected direction, announcing that he had become a great-grandfather and celebrating the birth of his eldest granddaughter's first child, a son.
“The good news is, starting today, I'm a great-grandfather,” Biden said before declining to take questions from reporters.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Christine Crowley said her team knew there was a “significant threat” as soon as the fire broke out because the Pacific Palisades fire was “high winds, high winds.”
Crowley said he had never seen wind conditions like this in his 25 years of experience.
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Dense smoke from wildfires blanketed downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday. (Richard Vogel)
The fires, which have burned a total of about 22 square miles, have killed at least two people and displaced more than 30,000 people.
President-elect Trump used a derisive nickname for Newsom during Wednesday's Truth Conference, saying a plan to send more water to the state's agricultural Central Valley would put endangered species at risk. He reiterated his old criticism of the governor, who resisted citing concerns.
A man walks past the burning Altadena Community Church in Pasadena, California, on Wednesday. (Chris Pizzello)
President Trump has sided with farmers over environmentalists in the long-running dispute over California's scarce water resources, but how his plan could alleviate firestorms in the Los Angeles area is not clear.
Trump said of Newsom in a post on Wednesday: “He wanted to protect essentially worthless fish like smelt by reducing watering (to no avail!), but he didn't care about Californians. “I didn't do that,” he said. “Now the ultimate price is being paid.”
On Tuesday, the Palisades Fire destroyed a Christmas tree inside a home in Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades neighborhood. (Ethan Swope)
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His comments came as several fire hydrants in Los Angeles County ran out of water during an overnight gunfight.
Officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works said overwhelming demand on municipal water systems not designed for wildfire protection was to blame.
Editor's note: This report has been updated to reveal that President Biden's granddaughter has given birth to a baby boy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
