Trump speaks with California governor amid raging wildfires

President Trump spoke with California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) amid ongoing wildfires that have killed at least seven people and burned across California, Oregon and Washington state.

White House spokesman Judd Deere confirmed the conversation on Twitter. 

Today, President @realdonaldtrump spoke with CA Gov. @GavinNewsom to express his condolences for the loss of life & reiterate the Administration’s full support to help those on the frontlines of the fires. The Governor thanked the President for the ongoing assistance and support.

— Judd Deere (@JuddPDeere45) September 10, 2020

About 14,000 firefighters are battling 29 major wildfires in California as of Thursday, according to Cal Fire. Since the beginning of the year, there have been 12 fatalities and more than 3,900 structures destroyed in the state.

Fire officials said six of the top 20 largest wildfires in California history have occurred in this year alone. 

California officials said Wednesday night that at least three people have died amid the North Complex Fire burning near Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties, and at least a dozen other individuals are missing.

The fire has burned across more than 250,000 acres. Cal Fire spokesperson Daniel Berlant attributed the flames to weather conditions.

Meanwhile the Creek Fire in central California has expanded across more than 166,000 acres.

Washington officials said Wednesday that a child in the state was killed in the Cold Springs Fire. Three people were also killed in fires in Oregon: two in Marion County and one in Jackson County.

Last month, President Trump took aim at California officials amid wildfires in the Bay Area, blaming the flames on “years” of poor forest management. 

“And I see again, the forest fires are starting,” Trump said at the time. “They’re starting again in California. And I said, ‘You’ve got to clean your floors. You’ve got to clean your floors.'”

“Maybe we’re just going to have to make them pay for it because they don’t listen to us,” he added at a campaign event in Pennsylvania. 

The next day, Newsom said that the federal government was still sending money as the state battled wildfires, saying “There’s no phone call that I have made to the president where he hasn’t quickly responded,” the Sacramento Bee reported. 

“He may make statements publicly, but the working relationship privately is an effective one,” the Democratic governor continued.