The president-elect blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom for the massive fires that have forced tens of thousands to evacuate, saying the governor should have signed a declaration to pump more water through the state.

When the air is warm and dry, transpiration and evaporation also suck water out of the plants and soil. That leaves dry vegetation that can provide fuel for flying embers to spread wildfires, as the Los Angeles area saw in early January.

Major fires across Los Angeles this week have killed at least five people, forced 180,000 to flee their homes, and destroyed thousands of structures