Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk attributed the extensive residential losses in the Los Angeles wildfires to inadequate governance and water scarcity.
California Governor Gavin Newsom rebuked Elon Musk for spreading falsehoods regarding the state’s wildfire response. Musk, a frequent critic of Newsom, blamed the significant damage in Los Angeles on poor governance at the state and local levels, citing a water shortage. He also retweeted a call for the governor’s resignation on X (formerly Twitter).
Musk’s claims follow Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s acknowledgment that roughly 20% of the city’s fire hydrants were depleted last week. Newsom subsequently requested an independent investigation into this matter.
Newsom countered Musk’s assertions on Monday with a video clip showing Musk questioning a firefighter about water availability. The firefighter confirmed the presence of water in several reservoirs but explained that the system’s capacity was overwhelmed, necessitating the use of water trucks as mobile hydrants.
Newsom stated that Musk’s claims were refuted by the firefighters.
Marty Adams, a former chief engineer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, noted that the scale of the wildfires presented an unprecedented challenge for the city’s water system, requiring innovative approaches to system design.
Wildfire and water expert Faith Kearns described the situation as a worst-case scenario, highlighting the need for preparedness and planning for future similar events.
Musk and Newsom also engaged in a dispute on X concerning looting in evacuated areas. Newsom accused Musk of inciting looting through misinformation, refuting Musk’s claim that California Democrats had decriminalized looting. Newsom emphasized that looting remains illegal and that offenders will face prosecution.
President-elect Donald Trump also criticized Newsom, accusing him of refusing to sign a “water restoration declaration,” a claim Newsom denied. Musk, a close Trump ally, has been appointed to co-lead the president-elect’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) advisory board.
The devastating LA wildfires have resulted in at least 24 fatalities and thousands of displaced residents. Strong winds are forecast for the coming week, posing further challenges to firefighting efforts.