The Wildfires

The skies over Los Angeles have darkened with smoke, the air thick with ash and sorrow. Families have lost their homes, businesses lie in ruins, and thousands have been forced to flee with little more than the clothes on their backs. The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have wrought unprecedented devastation, with over 40,000 acres burned, 24 lives lost, and more than 100,000 residents evacuated.

Governor Gavin Newsom has called this fire catastrophe one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, highlighting the immense scale of destruction and the anticipated economic losses, estimated to reach $50 billion.

Compassion

In the face of such calamity, Christians are called to mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15). Scripture also urges believers to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Empathy is needed in such times.

We must pray for those who have lost everything. Pray for firefighters risking their lives, for families unsure of their next steps, and leaders making critical decisions. Beyond prayer, there are actions one can take, such as donating to relief efforts, volunteering at shelters, or simply reaching out to those in need.

Criticism

However, it’s also imperative to critically assess the factors contributing to the severity of these disasters. While natural disasters are beyond human control, their impact often reveals the consequences of poor decisions and misplaced priorities. The LA fires expose a troubling mix of policy failures that have exacerbated the devastation, highlighting the need for accountability.

California’s approach to land management has created a tinderbox. Overgrown forests and insufficient firebreaks have left communities vulnerable to fires of this scale. Meanwhile, outdated water regulations compound the crisis, as reservoirs run dry not solely due to drought but due to mismanagement and environmental restrictions.

This falls on the shortcomings of liberalism in leadership and regulatory practices.

Among the contributing issues:

• Environmental restrictions: Efforts to protect species like the Delta smelt have placed disproportionate restrictions on water management. These federal and state-level environmental regulations have reduced water availability for agriculture, urban areas, and industry, creating a cascading crisis. The extreme measures pushed by groups like the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity have prioritized wildlife over human safety and infrastructure.
• Surplus Giveaway: Reports of surplus firefighting equipment being sent to Ukraine instead of bolstering domestic resources raise serious questions about leadership priorities. Ensuring the safety and preparedness of Californians should always come first.
• Emergency response staffing: Firefighters’ dismissal over vaccine mandates has left teams understaffed, compounding the challenge of fighting fires effectively. These government mandates restricted personal freedom, inadvertently reducing the availability of experienced personnel needed to combat wildfires effectively.
• DEI priorities in emergency units: Prioritizing diversity over merit in critical emergency response teams have raised valid concerns about their effectiveness. Deputy Chief Kristine Larson’s dismissal of concerns, such as whether female firefighters can carry someone out of a burning building, reflects the misplaced priorities of DEI initiatives. People don’t care about quotas or representation in life-and-death situations—they want the most qualified individuals responding to crises. These DEI practices have no place in emergency units where lives are on the line.
• Department of Insurance policies: Overregulation by California’s Department of Insurance has destabilized the market, leaving homeowners in high-risk areas without adequate coverage. Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s policies, including moratoriums on policy non-renewals, have forced major insurers like State Farm and Farmers to reduce their presence in the state. Homeowners are left relying on the expensive and limited California FAIR Plan, illustrating how progressive overreach often worsens the very problems it claims to address.

These are not isolated bureaucratic missteps; they are systemic failures with devastating real-world consequences. Leadership matters, and in this instance, the liberal policies championed by Newsom, Bass, and others have left California woefully unprepared for a disaster of this magnitude. Accountability is critical.

Call to Action

While we pray, encourage churches to help, lend a hand to those in need, and cheer on those on-site serving, holding leaders accountable is essential. Christians are called not only to serve but also to speak truth to power and seek justice (Micah 6:8). Justice demands accountability, and it starts with holding leaders responsible for their actions—or inaction.

So, what can you do? As citizens and believers, you have a role to play. You can:

• Make your voice heard on social media platforms.
• Write to your representatives.
• Call for emergency response units to prioritize ability over political correctness.
• Demand better land management practices.
• Support efforts to recall leaders who prioritize political agendas over practical solutions.
• Push for policies that strengthen water infrastructure while conserving natural resources responsibly.

As the ash settles, we are reminded of our calling: to save lives, steward creation, and hold leaders accountable when they fail. Let the LA fires be our wake-up call.