Los Angeles Wildfire
Los Angeles Karen Bass Drew Angerer/Getty images
(The Post News)- A catastrophic wildfire in Los Angeles, California, has reportedly been exacerbated by recent budget cuts to the city’s Fire Department. Just a week before the fire began, Mayor Karen Bass ordered an additional $49 million cut to the department’s budget, a decision that has drawn significant criticism in the wake of the disaster.
According to reports, this budget reduction would have drastically reduced the Fire Department’s preparedness and ability to respond effectively to the rapidly spreading fire. The estimated losses from the fire have already reached $20 billion, raising concerns about the impact of the budget cuts on the extent of the damage.
The cuts were projected to result in the closure of over 15 fire stations across the city, severely limiting emergency response capabilities. The Daily Mail reported on the potential consequences of these closures.
The massive fire, which ignited on January 7th, quickly spread throughout the city, even reaching the Hollywood Hills and forcing several celebrities to evacuate their homes.
A memo detailing the budget cuts was reportedly sent to all division chiefs and captains just a day before the Palisadas Fire broke out. This memo followed a tense meeting between Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and Mayor Bass. It’s also reported that the department had already faced a 2% funding reduction for the 2024-25 financial year.
A quoted statement from the released memo from the Los Angeles Fire Department stated, “The only way to provide cost savings would be to close as many as 16 fire stations (not resources, fire stations); this equates to at least one fire station per City Council District.”
The wildfires, which spread across Los Angeles County, include the Palisades and Eaton fires. The timing of the budget cuts, so close to the outbreak of the devastating fire, has raised serious questions about the city’s prioritisation of emergency services and its ability to protect its residents and property.
With the Palisades and Eaton fires having consumed over 36,000 acres as of Saturday. The fires have tragically claimed at least 11 lives, with 13 people still missing, and officials fear the death toll will continue to rise. This crisis has brought intense scrutiny upon Mayor Bass and the county’s emergency response.
Bass was reportedly on a planned trip to Ghana for the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama, over 7,000 miles away from the unfolding disaster. The region’s fire prevention and firefighting resources have also faced criticism, with allegations of inadequate water supply due to a poorly filled reservoir. Tesla CEO Elon Musk further amplified the criticism, labelling Bass “utterly incompetent.”
The criticism against Bass has been particularly prominent on social media, with users condemning her for being out of the country “while her city is burning to the ground.” The focus is on her absence during a critical emergency and the perceived lack of effective leadership in managing the crisis. This situation highlights the intense pressure and scrutiny public officials face during natural disasters and the importance of visible and effective leadership in such times.
As of Saturday afternoon, the petition demanding Bass’ resignation on Change.org has 65,196 signatures. The petition charges Bass with “gross mismanagement and failure to effectively respond” to the wildfires.
Mayor Bass also responded at a press conference, claiming that the much criticism directed at her is not solely because of the budget cuts but simply because people don’t like her. While also those who defended her said she is being vilified because she is a Black woman in America.
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