While the insurance cost of the devastation is estimated to be around $30 billion, another tally puts the total damage at upward of $250 billion.

Even with thick smoke coming from the Hughes Fire, skies have been clear in many areas, and the air quality forecast has been good. But that doesn't tell the whole story.

California should, then, follow a University of Chicago conclusion: “Wildfire emissions need to be a key part of climate policy if California is going to meet its emission reduction goals.” Instead, Newsom and company use climate change as an excuse, suggesting in essence that their hands are tied until we reverse the Earth’s climate trajectory.