In the world of political theater, it seems California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken the role of the leading man in a rather dramatic, and somewhat shocking, production. During the earlier part of the year, the Palisades fire, an unfortunate and devastating event, was raging on. Caught amidst the chaos, the governor experienced quite a fiery incident himself. It appears that an ember found its way to his well-coiffed hair, resulting in a brief yet alarming spectacle. The story goes that his hair “burst” when the ember landed, causing immediate concern and a frantic effort by his staff to whisk him away to safety, extinguishing what could have been the world’s most unappealing grease fire.

Now, one might think it’s the plot of an untold Hollywood blockbuster, complete with smoke, flames, and dramatic rescues. But, no, it’s merely the reality of living in California in the age of wildfires. Imagine the swift action taken by his team, dousing the gubernatorial locks before they could become a greater blaze. While the humor of the situation isn’t lost on some, it’s hard to overlook the grim reality of what this ember represents—homes and lives destroyed, memories lost, and a community in distress. The focus on a comically unfortunate mishap brushes over the deeper tragedy that so many have faced.

While the governor found himself momentarily in the hot seat, those who lived through the choices made regarding fire management policies might feel less sympathetic to his hair-raising day. But in the end, of course, the governor’s untamed mane was saved, and with it, his dignity—if only by a few strands. The reality check for the rest of California, however, continues without such a quick fix. People who lost everything cannot simply be swept away from danger with a bit of good luck and prompt action.

The laughter that followed the recounting of this episode is perhaps inevitable in a world that craves turning even the direst situation into a meme. Sure, it’s easy to chuckle at the thought of Gavin Newsom’s hair being the topic of conversation rather than his policies, but for those who lost more than a hairdo, the situation is less amusing. And as the laughter rolls on, one hopes that policies going forward will be less about maintaining appearances and more about protecting real lives and communities from future disasters.

In the grand scheme of things, the loss of a few hairs seems laughably insignificant compared to the tragedies faced by everyday Californians. Still, maybe next time the embers fly, the focus will remain where it truly belongs—on preventing the devastating consequences of such fires, rather than on trying to put out the smallest of fires on the top of a political head.