A massive wildfire, dubbed the “Madre Fire,” has scorched over 28,300 hectares (approximately 70,000 acres) in California within just two days. More than 600 firefighters are actively battling the blaze, which ignited on Wednesday in the central rural county of San Luis Obispo.
Evacuations and Mounting Concerns
Around 200 people have been ordered to evacuate, and dozens of buildings are currently threatened by the flames. California Governor Gavin Newsom reported that 15 new fires had erupted across the state in the last 24 hours, highlighting the severe and rapidly escalating wildfire season. Southern California experienced an unusually dry winter and spring, leaving vegetation parched as if it were already mid-summer, contributing to the increased fire risk.
Governor Newsom Criticizes Trump Amid Budget Cuts
The intensified fire season coincides with significant budget cuts and layoffs implemented by US President Donald Trump across key agencies, including the Forest Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Governor Newsom, a potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2028, accused Trump of failing to adequately fund brush clearing and controlled burning initiatives designed to prevent wildfires. “Trump needs to wake up and start funding federal firefighters and land management crews in these rural communities – instead of giving tax breaks to billionaires,” Newsom posted on X (formerly Twitter).
