The fires raging around Los Angeles are a tragic reminder of what happens when politics takes precedence over policy. As of Thursday, these infernos have claimed at least ten lives, according to official reports, and left countless families grieving and communities shattered. Yet, while families mourn and firefighters battle the flames, Democrats continue their predictable routine of finger-pointing at climate change instead of addressing the mismanagement and failed policies that make these disasters worse.

Los Angeles County Medical Examiner officials have said it may take weeks to identify the deceased due to the conditions left behind by the fires. “Traditional means of identification such as fingerprinting and visual identification may not be available,” they said, underscoring the sheer devastation these fires have wrought. Five lives were lost to the Eaton Fire alone, while two deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire.

Local leaders are understandably heartbroken. Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart issued a statement mourning a member of the community who perished in the Palisades Fire. “Our community grieves with you in this moment of unimaginable loss,” he said. But while statements like these are heartfelt, they do little to address the root causes of these increasingly catastrophic fires.

The destruction has been devastating, with over 29,000 acres burned and more than 10,000 structures destroyed across multiple fires, including the Eaton and Palisades blazes. Victims are left sifting through ashes, while others marvel at the randomness of survival. “I literally got on my knees and I sobbed,” said one resident whose home was spared.

Meanwhile, Democrats will waste no time blaming climate change, ignoring the years of poor forest management and environmental extremism that have tied the hands of landowners, developers, and emergency response teams. Fires like these thrive on a steady diet of dead trees and overgrown brush—fuel that Democrats’ restrictive policies have allowed to pile up. Instead of addressing these issues, they pour billions into green energy boondoggles and point fingers at “global warming,” as if that absolves them of responsibility.

California’s wildfires are a man-made disaster—not because of SUVs or air conditioners, but because of bad governance. Democrats have spent decades prioritizing ideological agendas over practical solutions, and the result is a state that can’t seem to keep its forests, homes, or communities safe. Families deserve better than hollow condolences and partisan scapegoating. They deserve leaders who will roll up their sleeves, clear the brush, and get out of the way of solutions.

While California burns, the contrast couldn’t be starker: Democrats blame the weather, while Republicans push for accountability. The choice for voters should be just as clear. The time for excuses is over, and the time for action is long overdue.