US: Vice President Harris Urges Californians to Follow Local Officials’ Safety Guidance

On Tuesday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris urged communities in Southern California, devastated by wildfires, to “follow guidance from local officials and stay safe.” Harris shared a message on X, emphasizing that she and President Biden have been in close communication with federal, state, and local authorities to ensure a coordinated response to the crisis.

“Over the last seven days, communities in Southern California have experienced horrific loss due to wildfires. President Biden and I have remained in close contact with federal, state, and local officials, and our Administration will continue to provide resources to support response efforts and help impacted communities,” Harris said.

In her message to Californians, Harris stressed the importance of caution. “To my fellow Californians: As the winds increase again, please follow guidance from local officials and stay safe,” she advised.

She also reassured that the outgoing administration would “continue to provide resources to support response efforts and help impacted communities.”

Harris expressed gratitude toward those fighting the fires, saying, “I am grateful to the firefighters and first responders who are working around the clock and putting themselves in harm’s way to help keep communities safe.” She added, “They show us the best of the American spirit in a moment of crisis.”

More than a week into the wildfires in Los Angeles, the flames have become the most destructive in the county’s history and are expected to be among the deadliest in the state, according to AL Jazeera. The fires have already destroyed at least 12,300 structures and claimed 24 lives, local authorities reported. Officials are preparing for more strong winds, which are expected to continue through Wednesday.

California state authorities are positioning firefighting crews in Los Angeles and other Southern California counties, which are under heightened fire danger. As of Monday, over 92,000 people in Los Angeles County were under evacuation orders, down from a peak of 150,000.