U.S. President Joe Biden has called off his planned visit to Italy, which was set to be his last trip abroad so that he can oversee the response to the severe wildfires in Los Angeles. The fires have caused the deaths of five people and forced thousands to leave their homes.

Biden's departure for Italy was planned for Thursday afternoon. The postponement of the trip was announced just hours after Biden left Los Angeles to see his first great-grandchild, who was born at a local hospital on Wednesday. Before he left for Washington, he was briefed by local fire officials. Upon his return to Washington, Biden issued a Major Disaster proclamation for California. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that President Biden chose to postpone his planned trip to Italy to concentrate on leading the whole federal response in the coming days.

It would have been Biden's last trip as president. Wildfires in Los Angeles are forcing more than 100,000 inhabitants to leave their homes. There have been at least five fatalities. Many Indian Americans have also been compelled to flee their homes in search of safety. In three locations—Palisades, west of Los Angeles; Eaton, north of Pasadena; and the San Fernando Valley—the unmanageable fire has so far consumed more than 70 square kilometres. Parts of Hollywood were evacuated on Wednesday due to a new fire in the hills. California Governor Gavin Newsom has sent over 7,500 firefighters and emergency workers to tackle the fire. The Department of Defence is also helping, providing 10 Navy helicopters and C-130 aircraft to support the efforts.

Pentagon Deputy Spokesperson Sabrina Singh informed reporters that the Nevada National Guard is preparing two additional Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System units and the California National Guard is adding two. According to the City of Los Angeles, hundreds of firefighters are still on the scene to assist in responding to the fire situations, and helicopters are delivering water from the air. During the current wind-driven fire events, officials advice locals to continue paying attention to warnings, staying safe, and being prepared. Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, apprised reporters that the fire was the largest in size and described it as unprecedented. "Hurricane-force winds are usually accompanied by rain storms. But these are hurricane-force winds that are combined with extremely dry drought conditions, she said.

Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County reported that as of Wednesday, around 27,000 acres were blazing. “We're doing anything and everything and as long as it takes to contain these fires. It's going to be a hell of a long way. It's going to take time,” Biden told reporters in Los Angeles earlier in the day. The city, which will host the Summer Olympics in 2028, now requires billions of dollars in rehabilitation.