California is once again choking on smoke and watching homes go up in flames as the Madre Fire has exploded into the largest wildfire the state has seen this year. And yet, while more than 70,800 acres have already burned and only 10 percent of the fire is contained, Governor Gavin Newsom is once again pointing fingers at Washington instead of owning up to years of failed preparation.
A Disaster That Was Predicted
The Madre Fire began July 2 along Highway 166 and has quickly spread across the Central Coast, forcing evacuations throughout San Luis Obispo and Kern Counties. At last report, over 600 firefighters, 46 engines, and four helicopters were working around the clock to slow the flames. But after years of warnings about dry brush, outdated water systems, and neglected fuel reduction, many residents feel this disaster was not a surprise—it was inevitable.
Just three days in, the fire had already consumed nearly 110 square miles—an area bigger than Sacramento—and the smoke has drifted across multiple counties. Los Padres National Forest officials have warned that with heat and wind, this fire will likely grow even larger.
A Governor Who Talks More Than He Acts
In the midst of this crisis, Newsom is accusing President Trump of failing to fund federal firefighters and land management. He has even started a publicity stunt campaign called “Make America Rake Again,” claiming that if only the federal government did more, California wouldn’t burn every summer.
But this blame game hides Newsom’s own record. For years, experts, fire survivors, and even Trump himself have warned Newsom to get serious about clearing brush and thinning forests on state land. In 2019, Newsom stood before cameras promising to change California’s approach to wildfire prevention. He signed an executive order announcing 35 “priority projects” that he claimed would treat 90,000 acres. An investigation later revealed the real number was just 11,400 acres—an exaggeration of nearly 700 percent.
During that same time, he slashed Cal Fire’s mitigation budget by $150 million, leaving fuel management crews with fewer resources just as drought conditions were worsening. In 2020, as millions of acres burned, Cal Fire’s own data showed they treated less land than the previous administration.
This year’s fire season has also exposed critical infrastructure failures. In January, when the Palisades Fire erupted near Los Angeles, firefighters literally ran out of water because the Santa Ynez Reservoir—a vital supply tank—was completely drained for repairs. The system that was supposed to protect neighborhoods was designed for small house fires, not walls of flame moving at highway speeds.
Yet despite these glaring problems, Newsom continues to insist the state has made “unprecedented investments” in prevention. In reality, he’s trying to catch up after years of disinvestment. Even after the disastrous 2020 season, his administration still fell short of the million-acre-per-year treatment experts say is needed.
Instead of taking responsibility for years of missed targets and half-measures, Newsom is focused on political theater. While he holds press conferences to demand Trump sign executive orders, Californians are packing “go bags” and watching ash fall on their homes.
President Trump has repeatedly warned Newsom about this pattern. As far back as 2019, Trump called out California’s failed forest management and threatened to cut off federal funding if reforms weren’t made. At the time, Newsom dismissed these warnings as political attacks. Today, the reality is burning across 70,800 acres.
A Record of Failure
For almost a decade, California has watched fire seasons grow longer and more destructive. Each year, Newsom promises bigger budgets and better preparation. But behind the headlines, the facts remain:
- Fuel reduction targets have repeatedly fallen short.
- Water infrastructure is unprepared for fast-moving fires.
- Budgets were cut even as risk increased.
- Regulations and red tape delayed brush clearing.
Now, as the Madre Fire forces families to evacuate over the holiday weekend, the state is paying the price.
NP Editor: Clearly Newsom is trying to sidestep this issues of California’s wildfires to clear the way for a Presidential run. If he were a competent leader he would have done the preparations and prevented the fires in the first place. Californians have watched while this has gotten worse, along with the homelessness problem which is expanding, and higher and higher taxes.
