The fires destroyed structures on 56% of all the properties making up the Pacific Palisades. Nearly half of properties in Altadena were destroyed.

President Trump and Secretary Burgum should take over the disaster areas, help victims rebuild, and stiff the grifters and the state and local governments.

So far, official blame has not yet been cast on Southern California Edison Co. for either blaze, with the events of Jan. 7 still under concentrated investigation. However, the fire that made ashes of Altadena appears to have begun under an Edison transmission tower in Eaton Canyon, which stretches into the San Gabriel Mountains north of town.