Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have drawn criticism for hiring private firefighters to save their home from the California wildfires, despite reports their neighbours have thanked them.
According to TMZ, the celebrity power couple paid a private team of professionals to save their US$60 million mansion by digging fire break ditches and using powerful hoses.
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The Kardashian-Wests fled the property, along with 250,000 others from the area, in order to escape the destructive blazes that have left at least 31 dead and over 200 missing.
TMZ claims to have spoken with several neighbours in the area who were grateful to the famous duo for stopping a domino effect on the surrounding houses.
However, many online commenters have dubbed the move "selfish", stating that the resources could have been used to benefit those in more eminent danger.
"They didn't do it to be nice. Their house would have burned first," one Facebook commenter wrote.
"They basically saved their own [home] and are now getting credit they shouldn't be getting. They should have paid to send that team somewhere else to help out. Then maybe I would be impressed."
Another claimed: "These celebrities have absolutely no shame."
"Are you kidding me? Someone who can rebuild instantly! Why not hire private firefighters for your community? Selfish people!" said another.
Other Facebook users pointed to the moral issues of people with firefighting training withholding their skills.
"For men to have training and know how to fight a fire and then not jump in and help when there's a devastating fire unless they're paid an exorbitant amount by a private person..." one comment read.
"I find this completely selfish - seems like they really care about their home only," said another.
The Kardashian-Wests stayed at a nearby hotel after evacuating their home, taking to social media to assure fans of their safety.
Newshub.
