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California wildfires: Donald Trump blames deadly Camp Fire blaze on forest management as he visits state

US President Donald Trump has visited California to speak to those affected by twin tragedies, the deadly wildfires and a mass shooting at a popular college bar in Thousands Oaks.

The Camp Fire, in northern California, has killed at least 76 people and left more than 1,200 missing, according to Reuters. However officials say the figure of those unaccounted for could change.

The president walked through the ashes of a mobile home and RV park in a small northern town all-but-destroyed by the wildfires and privately met with people grieving after the shooting at the bar outside Los Angeles.

Speaking in the town of Paradise, Mr Trump claimed poor forest management was to blame for the devastation caused by the Camp Fire blaze.

Mr Trump visits a neighbourbood affected by the Woolsey Fire (AP)
Mr Trump visits a neighbourbood affected by the Woolsey Fire (AP)

"This has been a tough day when you look at all of the death from one place to the next," Mr Trump said on Saturday before flying back to Washington after the visits to areas of Northern and Southern California in the aftermath of the unprecedented wildfires.

"We've never seen anything like this in California, we've never seen anything like this yet. It's like total devastation," Mr Trump said as he stood amid the ruins of Paradise, burned to the ground by a wildfire the president called "this monster."

As he surveyed the wildfire damage, Mr Trump said "hopefully this is going to be the last of these".

The president visited Malibu in California (AP)
The president visited Malibu in California (AP)

In a nod to his belief - not shared by all forest scientists - that improved forest management practices will diminish future risks, he added:

"We do have to do management maintenance and we'll be working also with environmental groups. I think everybody's seen the light and I don't think we'll have this again to this extent."

The president also visited Malibu after at least three people were killed in a deadly wildfire in Southern California.

Mr Trump, Gov. Jerry Brown, Paradise mayor Jody Jones and FEMA Director Brock Long tour the Skyway Villa Mobile Home and RV Park (Getty Images)
Mr Trump, Gov. Jerry Brown, Paradise mayor Jody Jones and FEMA Director Brock Long tour the Skyway Villa Mobile Home and RV Park (Getty Images)

At least 71 people have died across Northern California, and authorities are trying to locate more than 1,000 people, though not all are believed missing.

More than 5,500 fire personnel were battling the blaze that covered 228 square miles (590 square kilometres) and was about 50 per cent contained, officials said.

A burned neighborhood is seen in Paradise, California (AFP/Getty Images)
A burned neighborhood is seen in Paradise, California (AFP/Getty Images)

When asked in Paradise if seeing the historic devastation, which stretched for miles and left neighbourhoods destroyed and fields scorched, altered his opinion on climate change, Mr Trump answered, "No."

He was asked during an interview set to air on "Fox News Sunday" whether climate change played a role in the number of serious fires.

He responded that it "maybe it contributes a little bit. The big problem we have is management."

Before returning to Washington, Mr Trump met briefly at an airport hangar with families and first responders touched by the shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks more than a week ago, which left 12 dead in what the president called "a horrible, horrible event."

Reporters and photographers were not allowed to accompany the president to the session,

He added: "It was tragic and yet, in one way, it was a very beautiful moment."

"What can you say other than it's so sad to see. These are great people. Great families, torn apart," he told reporters. "We just hugged them and we kissed them - and everybody. And it was very warm."

The shooting claimed the lives of 11 people and one officer, Sgt Ron Helus, after a “maniac gunman” burst into the country and western bar and opened fire on hundreds of young revellers.

A police spokesman said 12 people died in the shooting, including one "hero" sergeant who rushed to the scene to confront the shooter.

The gunman, Ian David Long, also died at the scene.