The former Republican and mayoral candidate is riling up California's moderates amid the destruction, but will it work?

Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate and real estate developer Rick Caruso rips the Pacific Palisades' decimated water supply as "complete mismanagement."

Caruso, a candidate who lost the 2022 election to Mayor Karen Bass, owns shopping centers across the region, including the Grove in Fairfax, the Americana at Brand in Glendale and Palisades Village, a retail-residential complex in the Palisades that was damaged in the blaze.

A firetruck, non-potable-water trucks and about a dozen private firefighters were stationed outside Rick Caruso's home in Pacific Palisades on Sunday afternoon.

Caruso said poor preparation led to the Palisades Fire's devastation and said he believes the damage could have been mitigated, but officials are making excuses.

Amid the devastation of the fires, private firefighters have sparked anger, a sign of inequality between the city's wealthiest residents and those struggling to rebuild.

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER returns for its 23rd season FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/7:00-8:00 p.m. PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.

Real estate tycoons Rick Caruso, Grant Cardone and Robert Rivani claim corruption and mismanagement is behind SoCal inferno.

More than 30,000 Californians have evacuated and more than 28,000 are without power as multiple wildfires spread across Southern California.

These wildfires raise questions about the management of Los Angeles and of California, a city and state with enormous wealth and power.

Rick Caruso criticises Los Angeles' wildfire response, calling it inadequate and highlighting the city's lack of preparedness amid a state of emergency.- Watch Video on English Oneindia

Firefighters battling the Palisades fire dealt with hydrants that had little to no water flowing out. By 3 a.m. Wednesday, all hydrants 'went dry,' an LADWP official says.