Joel Pollak, Breitbart News senior editor-at-large, criticized California’s government response to the Pacific Palisades wildfires during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s The Ingraham Angle Thursday night. Pollak praised residents for stepping up to help each other while accusing government leaders of being “completely AWOL” during the crisis.
Host Laura Ingraham noted that some on the left attribute the intensifying wildfires to climate change and view the response as unrelated to political failures. Pollak countered by highlighting the lack of preparedness at the state and local levels. “Even if you believe climate change is causing more wildfires, the government still needs to prepare for them,” he stated.
Pollak pointed out critical gaps in leadership. “Our state government didn’t have an emergency plan in place, our mayor was out of the country, and our governor doesn’t have a clue,” he said. In the absence of official support, residents took the lead in ensuring their safety. Neighbors provided transportation, helped extinguish fires, and supported each other during evacuations. Despite the chaos, all residents in Pacific Palisades managed to evacuate without injuries.
Reporting from the devastated neighborhood for Breitbart News, Pollak described the scene as “unimaginable” but credited the survival and resilience of the community to their collective efforts. He emphasized, “The reason I believe Palisades will be rebuilt stronger is because of that character—that’s the Palisades spirit.”
Pollak’s remarks underscored the need for better wildfire response and management from California leaders. He suggested that failures in emergency planning and leadership left residents vulnerable, forcing them to take matters into their own hands. His comments resonate with broader critiques of California’s handling of natural disasters, which some conservatives attribute to mismanagement and misplaced priorities.
The Pacific Palisades wildfires are part of a broader crisis in California, where wildfires have burned thousands of acres and displaced tens of thousands of residents. Calls for accountability and improved disaster preparedness are growing as communities begin to recover.
