Death toll rises in California as wildfires rage across state

Local officials discovered 14 more bodies Saturday evening in California, bringing the death toll in the wildfire in the northern part of the state to 23.

The death toll of the Camp Fire has now surpassed last year’s Tubbs Fire. Another two people are dead from fires in southern California near Los Angeles, according to CNN. More than 300,000 people have been displaced as a result of the fires.

President Trump came under fire from Democrats and firefighters for threatening to cut federal aid to California for an alleged “mismanagement” of forests. The president walked back the tweet later, expressing condolences to families who have lost loved ones and gave thanks to firefighters for their work to control the fires, which are spreading at a breakneck pace.

Asked about Trump’s comment, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., refused to criticize the president, but said “California will receive the money they need.”

“It’s not the time to talk about cutting off California,” Graham said Sunday on CBS. “We’re going to help our friends in California.”

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