President Trump will visit the victims of California’s deadliest wildfires on Saturday. The fires have killed 59 people and 130 more remain missing.
"The President will travel to California this Saturday to meet with individuals impacted by the wildfires. We will keep you updated on details as they are available," White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters announced Thursday.
The town of Paradise, population 27,000, was destroyed last week by the Camp Fire in northern California which has burned down more structures than any other wildfire recorded in California. The fire has destroyed at least 7,600 homes.
As of Thursday morning, the Woolsey Fire in Southern California burnt 98,362 acres and is 57 percent contained.
President Trump initially blamed the fires on poor management.
"There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor," he wrote in a tweet. "Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!"
California Gov. Jerry Brown responded Sunday that “managing all the forests and everywhere we can does not stop climate change and those who deny that are definitely contributing to the tragedies that we're now witnessing and will continue to witness in the coming years."
However, the two spoke Wednesday and seem to be on better terms.
“President Trump told me on the telephone yesterday that he’s completely behind California in getting this recovery underway,” Brown said.
"President Trump told me they’re going to do everything possible to help California in this time of need,” Brown emphasized. “There’s a lot of statements, a lot of loose rhetoric, but I think we’re on the right path right now and we’re going to all work together.”
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