The head of California's firefighters union blasted President Donald Trump, calling his recent tweets threatening to withhold federal disaster relief aid following this year's wildfires "cruel and dangerous."
"As with last year’s fires, any suggestion that disaster assistance for fire victims and firefighting efforts could be withheld because of the state’s forest practices is ill-informed, cruel and dangerous," Brian Rice, president of California Professional Firefighters, said in a statement.
In his tweets, Trump criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom's mishandling of state forest management. However, Rice pointed out that the "most destructive fires currently burning in our state" didn't start in forests. He also said that 60 percent of California's total forests lands are under the protection of the federal government, which "has reduced support for forest management in California."
"Up to now, federal authorities have been extremely supportive, both with disaster assistance and firefighting resources," Rice added. "I hope and expect that this partnership will continue. It is what our firefighters, and the communities they protect, need at this time of crisis."
California Professional Firefighters represents more than 30,000 firefighters in the state. Go to the union's website to read Rice's full statement.
