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Governor Jerry Brown says Trump 'got our back' in wildfires

Posted at 8:58 AM, Nov 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-18 11:59:39-05

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGTV) -- California's governor is expressing optimism that President Donald Trump will support the state as it deals with raging wildfires.

Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown said in an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation" airing Sunday that the Republican president has "got our back" and has pledged to continue to help.

Trump initially blamed state officials for poor forest management in exacerbating the fires and threatened to cut off federal funding.

RELATED: Trump tours Camp Fire devastation in Paradise as death toll rises

He's since signed an emergency declaration and toured the devastated areas Saturday with Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom.

Brown also suggested in the CBS interview that the wildfires will make believers of even the most ardent climate change skeptics "in less than five years" and that those living near forests might need to build underground shelters to protect them from wildfires going forward.

RELATED: President Trump to meet with California wildfire victims