Trump expects to visit the California wildfires next week, according to Reuters

(Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump criticized California’s response to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles on Saturday and said he may visit the area next week after his inauguration.

As of Friday, the fire had killed at least 27 people and destroyed more than 10,000 structures in the residential areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena.

“I will be (going) probably by the end of the week,” Trump, a Republican who will be inaugurated on Monday, told NBC in an interview.

“I was going to go … but yesterday I thought it would be better if I went as president. I suspect it’s a little more appropriate.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom invited Trump to visit the area last week, saying people “shouldn’t politicize the human tragedy or spread misinformation.”

As the fires raged, Trump called for the resignation of Newsom, a Democrat whose policies have led to water shortages that have hampered firefighting efforts. Newsom says the allegations are baseless.

Trump has accused Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of incompetence and said President Joe Biden has left no money in the Federal Emergency Management Agency budget.

The wildfires, which started on January 7th, spread quickly due to dry conditions and extremely strong Santa Ana winds. Los Angeles officials on Thursday told most evacuees to stay away from their homes for at least another week.

Damage estimates range from $20 billion to $45 billion. Rents have risen and uncertainty over insurance settlements has displaced some.