WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris has announced the cancellation of her last official international trip due to the ongoing wildfires affecting her home state of California. This decision comes on the heels of a similar announcement from President Joe Biden, who also opted to remain in Washington rather than travel to Rome, where he was scheduled to meet with Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week.

Harris originally planned to travel to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany from January 13 to 17. Her itinerary reflected her desire to maintain an active global presence even after her defeat in the presidential race to Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on January 20.

Currently, firefighters are facing challenges as they work to manage various wildfires in the Los Angeles region. During a meeting with President Biden on Thursday, Harris emphasized the persistent and year-round threat that wildfires pose. She remarked, “It doesn’t matter what month of the year. We should be prepared.”

Notably, Harris’s own residence in the Brentwood area lies within an evacuation zone, highlighting the severe impact of the wildfires on her community and personal life.