Audio By Carbonatix
US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut federal funding for the wildfires sweeping California, in a Twitter spat with the state's governor.
Nearly 100,000 acres have been destroyed by wildfires in recent weeks, and thousands have been forced from their homes.
Mr Trump blamed Democratic governor Gavin Newsom, saying he had done a "terrible job of forest management".
The president made a similar threat last year, when fires killed 86 people.
"Every year, as the fire's (sic) rage & California burns, it is the same thing-and then he comes to the Federal Government for $$$ help. No more. Get your act together Governor," Mr Trump wrote on Twitter.
Mr Newsom, who has been highly critical of Mr Trump's environmental policies, responded: "You don't believe in climate change. You are excused from this conversation."
Increased temperatures due to global warming are causing huge wildfires in California regardless of how wet the previous winter was, according to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Drier, warmer conditions lead to vegetation drying out and becoming more flammable.
What's happening with the fires?
Firefighters have contained about half of the Maria Fire, the major blaze in southern California. The fire, which broke out on Thursday, has burned more than 9,400 acres, the Ventura County Fire Department said on Sunday. The largest blaze, the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, was 76% contained on Sunday after burning nearly 80,000 acres since it started on 23 October, officials said. All evacuation orders were lifted on Saturday.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Mercy Johnson faces backlash over $18.24 menstrual kit
38 minutes -
EU plans to fine Google high triple-digit million euro sum, Handelsblatt reports
47 minutes -
Senegal’s Faye names economist Lo as new prime minister
56 minutes -
Landslide at Angola illegal gold mine kills 28
1 hour -
The Draft NITA Bill should be shredded
1 hour -
Eni and partners approve new development phase for Ivory Coast project
1 hour -
Govt signals tougher scrutiny before renewing Gold Fields’ Tarkwa lease, Reuters report
1 hour -
Africa must build strong systems to achieve sporting success — Herbert Mensah
2 hours -
Gunmen abduct 25 people in twin attacks in Nigeria’s Kwara state, police say
2 hours -
Ebola patients flee in attacks on Congo health facilities, hobbling response
2 hours -
What Is Wrong with Us: Why we keep uprooting young trees because they have not yet become forests
2 hours -
Senegal’s parliament speaker quits two days after prime minister sacked
2 hours -
WHO chief says fast-moving Ebola epidemic is outpacing response efforts
2 hours -
Rubio says Strait of Hormuz has to be open ‘one way or the other’Â
2 hours -
Cocoa farmers, patients and consumers paying price for governance failures – CDM
3 hours