Saturday 20 / April / 2024
U.S. President Donald Trump pays his respects to the victims of the wildfires in California.
U.S. President Donald Trump paid respects on Tuesday (October 10) to the people of California who are enduring 17 wildfires throughout the state that have killed at least 13 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings.
"I spoke with Governor Brown last night to let him know that the federal government will stand with the people of California and we will be there for you in this time of terrible tragedy and need and I just want to pay my warmest respects. They're going through a lot," Trump said at the White House before an event with the Pittsburgh Penguins, winners of the 2016-2017 Stanley Cup.
About 1,500 homes and commercial buildings were destroyed statewide as flames spread across more than 115,000 acres (46,500 hectares) since Sunday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement.
North of San Francisco, the fires reduced houses to ashes in several communities. The city of Santa Rosa was particularly hard hit, with flames damaging a Hilton hotel and destroying a mobile home park.
The fires were fanned by high temperatures and dry conditions, which displaced tens of thousands of residents and forced schools and at least two hospitals in Sonoma County to close
