It is my sincere and heartfelt hope that the brave firefighters and residents throughout California understand this fundamental truth about Americans.

We are with you as you battle for your lives against the inferno that rages through your neighborhoods, destroys your homes and, most tragic of all, kills panicked residents.

Donald J. Trump has chosen to criticize what he describes as inadequate forest policies, blaming the fire on those policies and threatening to withhold federal emergency funds if state officials don’t reform them. Disgraceful, indeed.

Meanwhile, firefighters are risking their lives. Residents are losing their worldly possessions.

People … are … dying!

What’s more, firefighters from around the country are scurrying to the scene of the tragedy. Just this morning, we heard reports of North Texas fire departments dispatching firefighters to California to lend aid and assistance to their beleaguered comrades and to provide comfort to grief-stricken Americans.

I cannot say this enough nor can I say it loudly enough. We are watching acts of heroism playing out in real time, as it happens throughout the most populous state in America.

Godspeed to you all.