Schwarzenegger visits volunteers at site of California wildfire

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Wednesday visited with volunteers in Paradise, Calif., where local organizations handed out basic supplies to residents of the devastated town ahead of Thanksgiving.

Schwarzenegger wrote Wednesday on Twitter that he met residents who “have lost everything” in the wake of the wildfires, which destroyed most of the homes in the town of just under 27,000.

{mosads}”But I also saw the spirit of America. I saw firefighters working 24 hours shifts & I saw volunteers serving food and helping in every way,” the actor and former bodybuilder wrote on Twitter.

“This is the greatest country in the world,” he added in a video, standing in front of a burnt-out home in the city.

Today in Paradise I saw devastation & I met people who have lost everything. But I also saw the spirit of America. I saw firefighters working 24 hours shifts & I saw volunteers serving food and helping in every way. This Thanksgiving, I thank them for showing what makes us great. pic.twitter.com/tIvaVBAGQE

— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) November 21, 2018

Wildfires in California have destroyed thousands of homes and other structures over the past month, killing dozens of residents and wreaking destruction across parts of the northern and southern areas of the state.

President Trump visited the state last week, drawing criticism for his remarks appearing to blame the state’s management of forests for the severity of the blazes.

Despite his remarks, the president’s support for the state’s recovery efforts was praised by Gov. Jerry Brown (D) in an interview.

“The president not only has signed a presidential declaration giving California substantial funding, but he said and pledged very specifically to — to continue to help us,” Brown said.