Bill Burr Discusses Response To The LA Fires While On Kimmel
Comedian Bill Burr stirred up a heated reaction after his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Wednesday night, where he dismissed criticism of California’s leadership amid the historic Los Angeles County wildfires. The fires have claimed at least 25 lives, destroyed over 12,300 structures, and left thousands of families devastated. While Burr’s signature no-nonsense style drew laughs in the studio, it didn’t go over well with many who believe the state’s Democratic leadership shares a significant portion of the blame for California’s wildfire crisis.
Burr, who admitted he was “lucky” the winds shifted away from his home, brushed off any claims of mismanagement by California officials. “I think everyone did a great job — unlike the internet,” he said, targeting online critics. Mocking what he called “internet fire experts,” Burr sarcastically questioned their solutions, such as “flying a helicopter into the ocean” during 100-knot winds at night. “You wanna do that at night? You f***ing lunatic,” he said, doubling down on his position that those criticizing the response were clueless.
BURR: “The winds moved. I feel lucky. I think everybody did a great job- unlike the Internet + all these *fire experts*.”
Bill defends folks trying to handle an impossible fire situation, mocks keyboard warriors calling it “mismanaged”, blaming the homeless, etc (i.e. Joe Rogan) pic.twitter.com/WRpdfa0UqJ
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 16, 2025
But Burr’s fiery dismissal of critics avoided any mention of the structural issues and leadership failures that have worsened wildfire risks in the state. Critics qui0ckly pounced online. Comedian Tim Young summarized the backlash succinctly, writing, “Bill Burr lost all his credibility in less than 60 seconds.” Others noted that Burr’s sharp-edged humor was misplaced, given the tangible policy failures that contributed to the devastating fires.
For instance, California’s insurance market has become a disaster of its own, leaving thousands of homeowners without coverage or forcing them onto the state’s so-called “FAIR” plan. The state’s restrictive laws, including rules that prevent insurers from pricing premiums based on increasing fire risks, have driven private insurers out of the market. The Wall Street Journal editorial board recently called out California Democrats for these policies, noting that the FAIR plan has an unsustainable $458 billion in exposure with only $700 million in reserves—nowhere near enough to handle catastrophic events like these wildfires.
According to Fox 11's Rick Caruso, Los Angeles fire hydrants are out of water because the county refused to refill the reservoirs. pic.twitter.com/2wgQJzdwXg
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) January 8, 2025
And while Burr dismissed accusations of mismanagement, those in power haven’t exactly inspired confidence. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, for instance, has been criticized for ignoring warnings about high winds and fire risks. Instead of staying to prepare for the crisis, she reportedly left town for a taxpayer-funded trip to Africa just before the fires erupted. Bass also slashed $17.5 million from the fire department’s budget earlier this year, decisions that businessman and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso described as a failure of leadership. "You’ve got to have water,” Caruso said, adding that hydrants in the affected areas were "bone dry" and firefighters were left scrambling with inadequate resources.
Governor Gavin Newsom has also faced heat for California’s water policies, which have been hampered by environmental regulations protecting fish species like the delta smelt. Critics, including President-elect Donald Trump, have pointed out that more water could have been directed toward reservoirs and fire prevention infrastructure if not for these policies. Back in 2019, Trump’s attempts to pump more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta were blocked by California officials, leaving the state vulnerable to drought and wildfire risks.
Bill Burr lost all his credibility in less than 60 seconds. https://t.co/Gyk7piyCJ1
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) January 16, 2025
While Burr is known for his irreverent take-no-prisoners comedy, his refusal to aim any criticism at California’s leadership rubbed many the wrong way. With decades of failed forest management, water mismanagement, and political indifference contributing to the severity of these disasters, it’s hard for many Californians to accept the comedian’s blanket defense of the state’s response.
Burr did take a swipe at insurance companies during his appearance, yelling, “Free Luigi!” in reference to Luigi Mangione, who is accused of murdering a UnitedHealthcare executive amid the ongoing insurance crisis. But for many watching at home, the glaring omission of any critique aimed at Newsom, Bass, or other California Democrats turned Burr’s appearance into a frustrating spectacle.