California fires live: around 35,000 homes and business without electricity in LA as 16 deaths confirmed
GuardianJAN 19
LA Wildfires Death Toll Climbs as Santa Ana Winds Return
Above: Scorched cars are seen on the side of a road as some cars stop on the other side after wildfires on Jan. 12, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif. Image copyright: Qian Weizhong/Contributor/VCG via Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
These wildfires are a devastating manifestation of human-caused climate change, fueled by rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather. Greenhouse gas emissions intensify fire risks, creating a feedback loop of destruction. Without urgent action — e.g. ending fossil fuel use, adopting renewables, and enforcing strong climate policies — these disasters will escalate, driven by corporate disinformation and inaction.
Republican narrative
The Los Angeles wildfires reflect policy failures, not climate change. Decades of Democratic Party leadership in California prioritized costly yet ineffective programs over practical solutions, such as clearing underbrush and maintaining reservoirs. Mismanagement, underfunded fire departments, and poor resource allocation have worsened wildfire responses. Until leadership changes, such preventable disasters will persist.