Mazie Hirono Blames Maui Fire On Climate Change: ‘There Are Whole States’ Where You Can’t Talk About It

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) blamed climate change for the deadly fire that killed dozens of people in Hawaii last week, adding that those who don’t believe in it have a “head-in-the-sand attitude”.

Hirono made the remarks during a Sunday CNN interview with Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” after the fire in Maui last week killed at least 93 — a number that is expected to continue rising.

“I think that we very much need to acknowledge that climate change is upon us,” Hirono claimed. “There are whole states, by the way, Jake, where you can’t even use the words climate change because they still have a head-in-the-sand attitude.”

USA Today reported last week that “many scientists” say that the culprit behind the quadrupling of fires in Hawaii in recent decades is “unmanaged, nonnative grasslands planted by plantations and ranchers and others unfamiliar with the island’s native ecosystems. The grass is dry and prone to fires.”

“There is no doubt that fire-prone grasses have invaded drier Hawaiian ecosystems and brought larger, more intense fires,” said Peter Vitousek, a professor at Stanford University.

Officials are unsure of what sparked the fires but said that low humidity and high winds — fueled by a Category 4 hurricane south of the islands — greatly contributed to their rapid spread.

The report noted that the non-profit group Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization says on its website that “about 0.5% of Hawaii’s total land area burns each year, equal to or greater than the proportion burned of any other US state” and that “over 98% of wildfires are human-caused.”

WATCH:

WATCH: Dozens Ransack Los Angeles Nordstorm In $100,000 Smash-And-Grab Heist

Video captured dozens of masked and hooded suspects ransacking a Los Angeles Nordstrom department store on Saturday in a brazen smash-and-grab heist, stealing up to $100,000 in merchandise, according to reports.

Between 30-50 people stormed out of Nordstrom at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park around 4:00 p.m. after taking clothes, handbags, and other expensive accessories, Los Angeles Police Department told local media.

“To criminals, it is just property taken,” the police department said on social media. “To those who live in the area and patronize the Topanga Mall it is a loss of feeling safe.”

Police reportedly said a security guard was sprayed with Mace, pepper spray, or bear spray, likely by a suspect within the mob of thieves who eventually escaped in several vehicles, including a BMW and Lexus.

“The LAPD will exhaust all efforts to bring those responsible into custody and seek criminal prosecution,” police added.

Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass called on authorities to hold the suspected thieves accountable.

“What happened today at the Nordstrom in the Topanga Mall is absolutely unacceptable,” Bass said in a news release. “Those who committed these acts and acts like it in neighboring areas must be held accountable. The Los Angeles Police Department will continue to work to not only find those responsible for this incident but to prevent these attacks on retailers from happening in the future.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP

The weekend robbery scene marks the latest example of lawless behavior running rampant under Democrat control in California. In 2014, California voters approved Prop 47, which reduced the penalty for shoplifters who steal up to $950 worth of merchandise to a misdemeanor. Shoplifters could face up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000 if prosecuted.

Last weekend, law enforcement in nearby Glendale reported a “flash mob” of at least 30 suspects stole $300,000 of merchandise from an Yves Saint Laurent store at a high-end mall owned by Rick Caruso, who ran against Bass as a Republican in the 2020 L.A. mayoral race. He said the mall would reward up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects who committed this crime, Glendale police said.

About Us

Virtus (virtue, valor, excellence, courage, character, and worth)

Vincit (conquers, triumphs, and wins)