"Fires continue to rage in Los Angeles. Incompetent cops (politicians) have no idea how to put them out," Trump said on his social media platform "Truth."
"This is one of the worst disasters in the history of our country. They just can't put out fires. What is wrong with them?" he wrote.
The speed and intensity of the flames ravaging Los Angeles have put firefighting infrastructure to the test and raised questions and criticism about the state's preparedness.
Hydrants ran dry in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, which was devastated by one of five separate fires in the region, and water shortages further hampered efforts elsewhere.
A little more than a week before he returned to the White House, Trump began a series of accusations against California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, of failings in the response to the fires.
Meanwhile, Newsom invited Trump to visit Los Angeles and survey the devastation with him.
State officials say the fires have so far claimed at least 16 lives, displaced another 150,000 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures.
"Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death everywhere," Trump said in his post.
Despite the heroic efforts of firefighters, including precision sorties by aerial crews, the Palisades fire continues to push east toward the priceless collections of the Getty Center art museum and north toward the densely populated San Fernando Valley. | BGNES
