California’s Los Angeles city is facing a rare and severe wildfire, with images circulating on social media depicting apocalyptic scenes. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday, January 8th, that assistance will be provided to California.
DeSantis took to social media platform X to express, “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California. In times of disaster, we must unite and do everything we can to help our fellow Americans.”
He wrote, “Florida has offered assistance to aid Californians in dealing with the fires and rebuilding the communities that have been damaged.”
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, a wildfire broke out near the residential area of Pacific Palisades, and strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly. California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, January 7th.
The current blaze has destroyed thousands of homes, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the fire has spread to nearly 3,000 acres and is not yet under control.
Additionally, wildfires in Eaton and Hurst are also continuing to spread.
According to the Congressional Hill Report, the governors of California and Florida are seen as rising stars within their respective parties. The rivalry between DeSantis and Newsom can be traced back to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the two clashed head-on during a debate held by Fox News, with DeSantis participating in the Republican presidential primaries at the time.
Despite their differing political and ideological stances, Newsom had previously offered aid to Florida during natural disasters. In October of this year, when Hurricane “Milton” struck the west coast of Florida, Newsom dispatched multiple California rescue personnel to assist in disaster relief efforts.