Locals will figure out: California Governor shrugs blame over hydrants amid wildfires

California Governor Gavin Newsom deflected responsibility for fire hydrants running out of water during the devastating Pacific Palisades fire, saying the "local folks will figure it out".

In Short

• California Governor deflects responsibility for fire hydrants running out of water
• Says fire hydrants not typical for large-scale fires
• Donald Trump criticises Governor for prioritising fish over water supply

California Governor Gavin Newsom was seen deflecting responsibility for fire hydrants running out of water during the devastating Palisades fire, saying "local folks will figure it out". In an interview, Newsom was questioned about the hydrants running dry, leaving firefighters powerless as homes in the upscale neighbourhood were engulfed in flames.

"Look, the local folks are trying to figure that out," Newsom said when asked to comment on fire hydrants running out of water.

He added, "It's not dissimilar from what we've seen in other extraordinarily large-scale fires, whether it be pipes, electricity, or whether it might just be the complete overwhelm of the system." The Governor pointed to systemic issues but avoided directly addressing his administration's role in preventing such a failure.

"I mean those hydrants are typical for two or three fires - maybe one fire, and you have something of this scale, but again that's going to be determined by the locals."

The comments drew sharp criticism from both local officials and the public, with accusations of mismanagement worsening the devastation.

The fires, which have claimed multiple lives and forced thousands to evacuate, have reignited debates over California's preparedness for wildfires.

Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump added fuel to the controversy, taking to his Truth Social platform to accuse Newsom of mismanagement and blaming him for the scale of the destruction.

Trump alleged that Newsom prioritised protecting an endangered fish species over supplying Southern California with much-needed water.

Trump claimed Newsom blocked a proposal to redirect excess water from Northern California to the southern region, accusing him of ignoring the needs of the state's residents.

"Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water to flow daily into many parts of California," Trump wrote.

Newsom's office swiftly dismissed Trump's claims, describing them as "pure fiction."

In a statement, the Governor's office said, "There is no such document as the water restoration declaration - that is pure fiction. The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources the