Firefighters’ union criticizes Trump over California fire comments

President Trump on Saturday faced criticism from a firefighters’ union after he appeared to blame several wildfires in California on mismanagement by state and local officials.

The International Association of Firefighters called the president’s comments blaming “gross mismanagement” for the severe conditions in California an “irresponsible” and “reckless” act on behalf of the Trump administration.

{mosads}”President Donald Trump has chosen to respond with an irresponsible, reckless and insulting tweet criticizing the work being done on the frontline to contain these disasters. While fire fighters and civilians are still in harm’s way, the president even suggested cutting off necessary funding to keep Americans safe,” the union wrote in a press release.

“The early moments of fires such as these are a critical time, when lives are lost, entire communities are wiped off the map and our members are injured or killed trying to stop these monstrous wildfires,” added Harold Schaitberger, the union’s general president.

“To minimize the crucial, life-saving work being done and to make crass suggestions such as cutting off funding during a time of crisis shows a troubling lack of real comprehension about the disaster at hand and the dangerous job our fire fighters do,” Schaitberger added.

“His comments are reckless and insulting to the fire fighters and people being affected.”

Trump blamed “poor” forest management in California for the fires, which earlier this year saw the state experience the largest recorded wildfire in the state’s history.

“There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests,” Trump wrote on Twitter.

“Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!”

There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018

Hours later Trump would add a message of condolences to those affected by the fire after facing criticism from some, including the top executive of California’s firefighter union.

“More than 4,000 are fighting the Camp and Woolsey Fires in California that have burned over 170,000 acres. Our hearts are with those fighting the fires, the 52,000 who have evacuated, and the families of the 11 who have died. The destruction is catastrophic. God Bless them all,” Trump wrote hours later.

More than 4,000 are fighting the Camp and Woolsey Fires in California that have burned over 170,000 acres. Our hearts are with those fighting the fires, the 52,000 who have evacuated, and the families of the 11 who have died. The destruction is catastrophic. God Bless them all.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018