It is day six of the Los Angeles wildfires. 24 feared dead, and more may come. “It could be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, and there’s likely to be a lot more,” California Governor Gavin Newsom told NBC, as intensifying winds threaten to reverse efforts to contain the blazes. So far, three major fires—the Eaton, Hurst, and Palisades—have scorched over 40,000 acres combined.
California is no stranger to wildfires. In terms of acreage, the ongoing Los Angeles fires have not yet surpassed some of the state’s previous infernos. However, what sets this disaster apart is the number of structures affected so far. The Camp Fire of November 2018 in Butte County, California’s deadliest wildfire on record, burnt 153,336 acres, claimed 85 lives, and destroyed 18,804 structures. By comparison, the Los Angeles fires have already levelled 12,300 structures and could surpass the Camp Fire as the most destructive wildfire (structure-wise) in California’s history.
Considering Los Angeles being the heartbeat of California—the wealthiest state in the U.S.— has raised questions about the wildfires vis-a-vis management. Both the city and state appear ill-prepared to contain the crisis, and this, as expected, has drawn sharp criticism and interpretations from many quarters. But why?
Public opinion is divided into two sharply contrasting views. Each is rooted in differing worldviews, spiritual and material. On the one side, conservative critics point fingers at the liberal government’s diversity programs. They claim they have weakened both the structure and financial capacity of the Los Angeles Fire Department. On the other hand, many Muslims around the world interpret the fires as a form of divine retribution linked to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
One need not necessarily agree with either of these perspectives. Indeed, they may seem absurd to many. But the sociopolitical underpinnings fueling these interpretations are interesting. At the very least, valuable lessons can be drawn from them.
Gender Equality and Efficiency
As in many sectors, liberal administrations in the U.S. have pushed for “diversification” in areas traditionally dominated by men, and firefighting is no exception. When former mayor Eric Garcetti took office in 2013, he set a goal to increase the percentage of women in the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) from 2.9% to 5% by 2020. Although this figure still stands at just 3.5%, the department has produced its first female and lesbian head, Kristen Crowley, the woman in the middle of the present crisis.
As if diversity propaganda were not enough, in June 2023, NPR ran a headline reading, “Firefighting is mostly white and male. A California program aims to change that.” Based on these, conservatives continue to argue that initiatives like these might have undermined the system’s effectiveness as they prioritise diversity over efficiency,
Proponents of gender diversity in the fire service often invoke the old mantra, “What a man can do, a woman can do,” but recent videos circulating online have cast doubt on such claims. The most controversial moment came when Deputy Chief Kristine Larson, who heads the Equity and Human Resources Bureau, responded to accusations that female firefighters lack the strength to carry a man out of a burning building. “He got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out of a fire,” she said.
Meanwhile, last year, the LAFD faced a budget cut of $17.6 million. While that amount may seem modest—roughly 2% of the total budget—it’s noteworthy that a significant portion, around one to two million dollars, was reportedly allocated to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
Zionism and Divine Justice
Talking about budget, it’s no secret that foreign aid accounts for roughly 1% of the U.S. federal budget. The chief beneficiary of U.S. military aid is Israel has an MOU guaranteeing $3.8 billion annually. However, since October 7, the U.S. has sent no less than $17.9 billion to Israel to support its genocide.
Remarkably, a July 2024 report on CAIR California’s website points out that California alone contributes $609,845,124 annually—more than any other state in the nation. Among the cities in California, Los Angeles tops the list, contributing $50,666,583 in federal taxes to arm Israel. Whatever you sow, you reap?
The situation took on a dramatic tone when Hollywood actor James Woods, who had previously celebrated the Gaza genocide on his X page, appeared on CNN, crying live over the loss of his multimillion-dollar home to the flames. Interestingly, he is just one of many celebrities—those who have openly supported Israel or remained silent—who have lost their homes in the fires. These events lend some credence to the notion that this could be a form of divine retribution. At the very least, one might say there is little sympathy for their plight.
Conclusion
While the California fires appear to be a natural disaster, their timing and the circumstances surrounding them invite several interpretations. Yet these interpretations offer important lessons. Perhaps it’s a reminder to prioritise the right things—merit rather than chasing trends like equality where it does not exist.
The timing of the fires, juxtaposed with the ongoing genocide in Gaza, carries its own weight. Whether one sees it as divine justice or simply a wake-up call, it speaks volumes. Those who have long enjoyed the comforts of their villas are now witnessing firsthand how quickly one can lose not only wealth but also years of hard work. Especially in a situation where insurance companies are now rendered powerless.
Allah reminds us: “Whatever you have will end, but whatever Allah has is everlasting. And We will certainly reward the steadfast according to the best of their deeds.” (Nahl 16:96).
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