By JACKIE TAYLOR | January 15, 2025

Burning down the house

Sounds of David Byrne with the Talking Heads singing “Burning Down the House” is running through my head about now – at this point 38,629 acres of southern California have burned. A cause – or causes – of the fire are yet to be determined; but bone-dry land that hasn’t been cleared since green-brain public officials decided saving a tiny mouse or smelt fish in California was more important than clearing out fire lanes or saving run0ff to reservoirs aided the growth of the six or seven fires burning southern California.

Devilishly dry and strong Santa Anna winds blew beginning last week prompting weathermen coast to coast to report on the likelihood of high fire danger in the Malibu and Palisade area of Los Angeles. That warning came to fruition with the help of Mother Nature and, allegedly, an illegal immigrant with a blow torch.

As of Monday morning, the news reported the destruction of over 12,000 homes and 40,000 square acres burned.

Given California’s record of huge fires in the past few years, State Farm Insurance was one company that cut losses and canceled many of its California customers’ coverage. CBSNews.com reported, “Pacific Palisades, the Los Angeles neighborhood that’s been devastated by the Palisades Fire, is emblematic of the insurance nightmare increasingly facing homeowners residing in regions prone to climate disasters.

“About 1,600 policies in Pacific Palisades were dropped by State Farm in July, California Department of Insurance spokesman Michael Soller said in a Thursday email to CBS MoneyWatch. An analysis of insurance data by CBS San Francisco last year found that State Farm also dropped more than 2,000 policies in two other Los Angeles ZIP codes, which include the Brentwood, Calabasas, Hidden Hills and Monte Nido neighborhoods.

“State Farm’s decision reflects a trend of private insurers, including Allstate and Farmers Insurance, of dropping California policies or halting underwriting, leaving homeowners with the choice of getting coverage through the insurer of last resort, the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan, or FAIR Plan, or forgo insurance altogether. The FAIR Plan provides basic fire insurance coverage for properties in high-risk areas when traditional insurance companies will not.”

FoxNews discussed the FAIR Plan last week for customers with no other way to go and the general consensus was that coverage was better than nothing.

Burning Down the House is also synonymous with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s political career. He needs to wear a ball cap with the inscription “I’m their boss, which way did they go?” with arrows pointing both directions. He’s so busy passing the buck on the terrible handling of fire preparation, infrastructure preparation, etc. that he’s got blisters on his fingers.

The mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, has been busy – busy cutting the stressed Los Angeles’ Fire Department budget by $17.6 million this year. CBSNews.com reported, “Funding for the city’s fire department decreased by $17.6 million, or 2%, between the 2024-25 fiscal year and the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to city budget documents. However, the city council in November approved a four-year $203 million contract with the firefighter’s union to help boost wages and health benefits for staff, drawing from the budget’s general fund.  

“The Palisades Fire, it is absolutely one of the most horrific natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles,” Crowley said Friday. “Even with an additional 100 engines, I tell you, we would not catch that fire. With that being said, let me be clear, the $17 million budget cut and elimination of our civilian positions like our mechanics did, and has, and will, continue to severely impact our ability to repair apparatus.”

She’s passing the buck that the fire damage wasn’t due to her decisions; rather due to the governor and his lack of initiative on infrastructure necessary to the state to fight fires.

Meanwhile, Joe, in his last 10 day stretch as Commander in Chief, has promised Newsom, according to ABCNews.go.com, that “the federal government would cover 100% of costs for the initial disaster response to the Los Angeles wildfires.

“Meeting with federal officials at the White House, Biden said the funds would go toward debris removal, temporary shelters, salaries for first responders and more for 180 days.

“Biden said he emphasized to California officials they should “spare no expense to do what they need to do.”

The Californiaglobe.com reported, “While previous fires had the federal government foot 75% of the costs, Newsom and other leaders in California pushed for 90% for the Southern California fires because of their shear destruction.

“On Thursday, President Biden surprised everyone by announcing that the federal government would be paying for 100% of all fire response costs for the first 180 days. According to Biden, this will include covering debris removal, setting up temporary shelters, and paying first responders.”

The cost of the fires will be monumental to taxpayers. People can’t be left to fend for themselves – somewhat like those who experienced the western North Carolina flooding are doing – the government needs to help. The buck stops with Newsom for not preparing his state with proper infrastructure in reservoirs, forest management and more.

Burning Down the House should be his theme song if he decides he wants to run for president – heaven help us all if he ever does.