Gov. Newsom's wildfire response criticized by Chris Christie: "Do your job!"

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom of California and other leaders for their inadequate wildfire preparation, labeling their response a "massive failure" as over 2,000 structures were destroyed and at least 24 people perished in Los Angeles County.

During "The Brian Kilmeade Show," Christie criticized Newsom for not accepting responsibility for the crisis and accused him, along with local leaders, of mishandling the state's response to the historic fires.

"As Christie stated on Monday, the failure and disappointment caused by the natural disaster in California is a huge tragedy for the affected families. As the governor of the state, it is your responsibility to be accountable for the disaster and to be the one that the public relies on for guidance and support."

""From the start, you must be proactive and not rely on saying 'Jeez, I'm not sure. I'll figure it out later.' The fires were anticipated, and we were aware of their potential to expand," he emphasized."

Last week, the Eaton and Palisades fires began on Tuesday and have burned nearly 40,000 acres combined. The Eaton fire, located in Pasadena, has resulted in 16 deaths, while the Palisades fire has claimed eight additional lives. Despite their efforts, both fires remain largely uncontained as of Monday morning.

Since the fires started last week, Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass have been criticized for their handling of the disaster, with many claiming they were not adequately prepared as communities were reduced to ash.

"Christie stated, "The loss of photo albums, memories, and videos of our children is devastating. These items cannot be replaced. Therefore, the government must take action and provide the necessary funds to replace what can be replaced. However, Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass have not done enough to address this issue.""

At the time the fire started, Bass, who was abroad, admitted that up to 20% of the city's hydrants were dry, causing firefighters to avoid using them.

The LADWP initially supplied aqueducts and groundwater to the system, but the high demand led to insufficient water to replenish three 1-million gallon tanks in Pacific Palisades, which assist in pressurizing hydrants.

An independent investigation into the incident was demanded by Newsom, who described it as "troubling."

"The lack of water pressure in local fire hydrants during the fires and the unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir are concerning to both me and the community. Although fire hydrants are not meant to put out wildfires over vast areas, losing supplies from them may have hindered the firefighting efforts and put some homes and evacuation routes at risk."

While facing calls to resign, Newsom engaged in a dispute with President-elect Trump over accusations of mismanaging the state's water supply.

"As a responsible governor, regardless of Gavin Newsom's feelings about Donald Trump, it is important to work in good faith with him, rather than taking political shots at him."

"Governor Newsom should be ashamed of himself because there is a complete lack of accountability and credibility," he stated.

Despite being questioned about his role in the crisis, its management, and his support for Bass's efforts to address the disaster, Newsom mostly evaded answering the questions.

Christie's avoidance was seen as a sign of future political ambitions, with many speculating that he would eventually run for president.

"Christie stated that the individual's sole focus is on running for President of the United States, and they should instead concentrate on performing their duties."

Planet Chronicle' Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.