LOS ANGELES, California — California State Representative Bill Essayli (R) has criticized the state’s handling of wildfire management, arguing that leftist policies have left communities vulnerable as a wildfire continues to blaze through Los Angeles County’s Pacific Palisades.
Essayli, a Republican representing the 63rd State Assembly District southeast of Los Angeles, pointed to policy decisions he believes have worsened the frequency and intensity of wildfires. His remarks come as the Pacific Palisades blaze and the nearby Eaton Fire, south of Los Angeles, have claimed at least five lives and destroyed approximately 17 thousand acres with zero containment.
The death toll and structural damage is expected to rise as some call this wildfire the “most destructive ever in Los Angeles County.”
“Our governor has been obsessed with holding a special session to ‘Trump-proof’ CA, when he should be focused on FIRE-PROOFING our communities,” Essayli posted on X.
He highlighted the reduction in timber harvesting as one factor, noting a significant drop over the years.
“In the 1950s, the average timber harvest in California was around 6.0 billion board feet per year. Today, that number has dropped to ~1.5 billion board feet per year,” he wrote. “California’s forests, which cover a third of the state, are now choked with nearly 163 million dead trees.”
Essayli also pointed to regulations like the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which he said restrict local governments and fire management agencies from conducting controlled burns and clearing dead trees and vegetation.
“This is a big deal and prevents much of the controlled burns we desperately need,” he said.
Additionally, Essayli cited failed legislative efforts as missed opportunities to address wildfire risks. He referenced Senate Bill 1003, which would have permitted local governments to construct underground power lines to reduce the chances of exposed lines sparking fires. He also criticized the rejection or veto of bills that would have exempted wildfire prevention initiatives from CEQA regulations.
“Many of the wildfires CA experienced could have been prevented or significantly mitigated with better management, policies, and funding,” Essayli said. “This is a time for accountability and, more importantly, change in how we approach fire policy.”
He concluded by attributing the rejection of certain proposals to partisan politics. “Many of the rejected proposals were brought by Republicans, and I suspect they were rejected for that reason. There is only one political party to blame for CA’s failures,” Essayli added.
