Elon Musk blames LA wildfires on diversity, equity, and inclusion

Amid the devastating wildfires ravaging Los Angeles this week, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has sparked another.

Controversy by using his social media platform, X, to blame the fires on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.

In a tweet, Musk claimed that the Los Angeles Fire Department prioritised “DEI over saving lives and homes,” responding to a post from the far-right account.

The post had alleged that the fire department focused on racial diversity within its staff, a claim Musk linked to the ongoing wildfire disaster. Musk’s comments have drawn widespread criticism,

With many pointing out that the causes of the fires are far more complex. Experts have consistently cited climate change as a major driver of extreme wildfires,

While severe budget cuts to emergency services and the use of prison labor to fight fires have also been identified as key factors in the fire-fighting challenges facing the city.

 

After striking an unauthorized drone flying over the Pacific Palisades, a plane that was collecting water from the ocean to combat wildfires was grounded.

Apartment fire in New York’s Bronx injures seven, displaces more than 200