At least 11 people have lost their lives, while more than 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as wildfires in Los Angeles continue to ravage the US city. While accounts of the cause of the wildfire and how it spread in different areas of California vary, a section of conservatives have blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the fire department, including billionaires Elon Musk and Bill Ackman is leading the charge on social media. , Meanwhile, newly elected President Donald Trump has blamed a small fish called Delta Smelt for the wildfires.
The X (formerly Twitter) boss has reposted several videos where the fire department’s DEI initiatives have been linked to the spread of wildfires.
Sharing a video criticizing the fire department’s stance, Mr Musk wrote, “DEI means people die.”
DEI means people die
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 9 January 2025
The Tesla owner also cited Libs of TikTok, a right-wing account that called on the LAFD for its “racial equity plan” to end “systemic, institutional and structural racism.”
“They prioritized DEI over saving lives and homes,” Mr Musk wrote.
They gave priority to DEI instead of saving life and home
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 8 January 2025
Notably, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has been led since 2022 by Kristin Crowley, the first female and first LGBTQ chief of the department.
When people said that DEI could kill people, they were ridiculed or worse.
We need to get back to a country where jobs are awarded based on merit, experience and excellence rather than racial, sexual, gender and/or other forms of identity.
Would you like something else besides this…
– Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) 9 January 2025
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delta smell
The Republican leader took to his Truth Social handle and attacked Governor Gavin Newsom and talked about the said fish.
Mr Trump wrote, “He (Newsom) wanted to save a useless fish called smelt by watering it less (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California.”
“Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to flow into California! He is to blame for this. On top of all this, there is no water for fire hydrants, no water for firefighting planes Not for. A true disaster!”
Since the wildfires started, they have destroyed more than 20,000 acres, where firefighters say they are beginning to bring the blaze under control.
Although wildfires occur naturally, scientists claim that human-caused climate change is altering the weather and fire dynamics. Two wet years in Southern California have given way to very dry years, leaving substantial amounts of fuel dry and burnable.
