He thanked firefighters who had travelled from across the United States, including Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Washington, Northern California, New Mexico, Idaho, and Maine.
The host also expressed gratitude to crews who had come from Mexico and Canada to assist with the emergency response.
“And to our police, our National Guard, our rescue workers, doctors, the nurses, EMTs, the pilots working 12-hour shifts – thank God for all of you,” Kimmel said.
He highlighted how the crisis had brought out the best in many local residents.
“Once again, we see our fellow men and women coming together to support each other. People who lost their own homes were out volunteering in parking lots, helping others who lost theirs,” he told viewers.
The show has established a donation centre in its Hollywood backlot to distribute essential items to those affected by the fires.
Kimmel’s comments towards the President-elect come after Trump took to his Truth Social platform to criticise California’s response to the fires, writing: “The fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out.”
The 78-year-old continued: “Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place… they just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
As of Monday morning, just 13 percent of the Pacific Palisades fire was contained, with firefighters still battling to control the blaze.
The Eaton Fire, which has burned more than 14,000 acres in Altadena and Pasadena, is 27 percent contained.
Disney, the parent company of Jimmy Kimmel Live, has donated £15 million to relief efforts in the region.
Local actor Steve Guttenberg has been helping emergency efforts in Pacific Palisades, moving abandoned cars to allow emergency vehicles through and helping neighbours put out smaller fires.
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