Trump's Finland-based solution for California wildfires raises eyebrows

President Trump's statement that California could prevent wildfires by paying more attention to forest floors raised some eyebrows. President Trump's statement that California could prevent wildfires by paying more attention to forest floors raised some eyebrows. Photo: Twitter Photo: Twitter Image 1 of / 63 Caption Close Trump's Finland-based solution for California wildfires raises eyebrows 1 / 63 Back to Gallery

While visiting Paradise, Calif. to assess the damage done by the deadly Camp Fire, President Donald Trump said California needs to spend more time "raking and cleaning" the forest floors.

Standing next to Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, Trump stated the president of Finland told him that taking care of the forest floors has helped the country avoid wildfires.

Trump: "You gotta take care of the floors. You know the floors of the forest, very important... I was with the President of Finland... he called it a forest nation and they spent a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things and they don't have any problem." pic.twitter.com/cC8syQobdC — Contemptor (@TheContemptor) November 17, 2018

"You have to take care of the floors, the floors of the forest, very important," he said. "You look at other countries where they do it differently and it's a whole different story. I was with the president of Finland and he said we're a forest nation, and they spent a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things and they don't have any problem. And when they do, it's a very small problem."

Trump predicted that spending more time raking the forest floors would "work out well" preventing future wildfires in California.

A number of Twitter users were unsure if one could compare California's climate to Finland's climate.

"I perhaps wouldn't compare Finland and California climate-wise..." Veli-Pekka Kivimäki, a Finnish researcher and lecturer tweeted. "And besides, 80% of the country is classified as forest land. We don't exactly manicure all of it."

"Someone please show Donald Trump a globe so he knows how close to the North Pole Finland is in comparison to Southern California," comedian Billy Procida tweeted.

A handful of other users pointed out that Finland has had its share of recent forest fires despite its forest management policies.

Click through the slideshow above to see reactions to Trump's forest floor proposal.