In the weeks since Pallisard’s fire broke out, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been repeatedly questioned as to why she set out for Ghana as the dangerous winds became increasingly concerned.
This week, Bass and her office made their first remarks about her decision, holding Los Angeles Fire Department chief Christine Crowley and others accountable for not warning her in high-level weather.
“Before other major weather emergency, the mayor, or at least the mayor’s chief of staff, has received a direct call from the fire chief and flagged the seriousness of the situation. This time, that call never comes It wasn’t,” Bass spokesman Zach Seidl said in a statement.
Crowley did not reach out to the mayor’s chief until Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, after the Palisade had already burned, Seidl said.
On January 2, the National Weather Service warned about X-feeds of possible “extreme fire weather conditions” from January 7th.
Agency forecasts escalated to “major risks – take action” and “critical fire conditions” on January 3rd. The next day, Bass set out for Ghana as part of the presidential delegation.
By January 6th, the agency was buzzing with an X. A life-threatening, devastating, widespread wind storm is expected on an afternoon morning. ”
The horrifying wind forecast was featured in many news reports in the winter when the LA area saw little rain.
For days after the fire broke out, tensions between the bus and Crawley appear in public places, with Crawley on television, and her and her as Base implicitly not providing more funds and resources. The department says it has failed.
Fire department representatives refused on Thursday to directly address Seidl’s claim that Crawley did not call it bass.
“LAFD followed standard preparation procedures for extreme fire weather forecast for January 7th,” the fire department said in a statement. “In addition, public notices and media recommendations have been made while LAFD is coordinating with other city departments and elected officials.”
The department used traditional media and social media to notify the public about the fire hazard, conduct media interviews, emailed two separate media advisories, and notified city authorities, the statement said. It states.
Apart from that, LAFD has been warned that some of the most dangerous winds in recent years are heading towards the area, as has been done in the past by engines and firefighters. and defends the decision not to deploy to Pallisard in advance.
Asked about Bass’ statement, Freddy Escobar, president of the Firefighters’ Union, said there had been constant speculation and Monday morning quarterbacking since January 7th.
“Independent reviews and action reports should be completed before continuing to reckless finger orientation,” Escobar said. “Our rank and file firefighters express their appreciation for the fire department’s status and the integrity of Secretary Crowley, whom she fights for the resources we need to do our work. You can do it.”
In a TV interview this week, Bus suggested that she was left in the dark about the seriousness of the risk of a wildfire.
“To say that something scary can happen was not that level for me. You probably shouldn’t have gone on a trip,” she told Fox 11 News.
She also suggested that the city was not well prepared for the fire, which destroyed nearly 7,000 homes and other structures, killing at least 12 people.
“There were warnings, but I don’t think our preparation was typical,” Bass said.
She noted last week’s storm as an example of a city and county working together to take action.
“When we knew we were going to rain, you’re talking about how we’re going to get together and we’re talking about how we’re talking, we’re getting your punching bag and we’re going to put out the K-rails. I saw it,” she said. “That type of preparation didn’t happen.”
In an interview with FOX and with KABC-TV Channel 7, Bass said he did not travel to Ghana if he received appropriate warnings about the possible catastrophic wildfires.
“If I had honestly and genuinely had all the information I needed to have, the last thing I would have done was to leave town,” she told KABC.
When the fire tore through the Palisades hills on January 7th, he was taking photos at a Ghanaian embassy cocktail party after attending the inauguration of Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama.
Seidl says she spent most of the parties calling in another room.
Bass also said he received telephone service on a military plane that flew between Ghana and Washington, DC after the fire broke out. Bass is a constant presence on social media, urging Angelenos to flee the evacuation zone and announce his decision to declare a state of emergency. .
After landing at Los Angeles International Airport, Bass stood quietly and almost avoided eye contact as the Sky News Reporter forced her to apologize to Angelenos for being out of the country. The conflict video went viral.
Back home, Bass initially told reporters that she was defensive about her trip and that she was focused on recovery. However, she has committed to fully assessing the city’s actions before and after the fire, including the actions of the fire department.
Since then, critics have questioned bass judgment and leadership.
After protests from residents, the bus reversed the course on her decision to open the Pacific Palisade to the public. She also overturned herself with her initial plan to pay Steve Soboroff, the $500,000 fire recovery emperor for 90 days of work. Soboroff is currently working for free.
One of Bass’ most keen critics was developer Rick Caruso, who ran to her in 2022 and has not ruled out another campaign against her. He has established himself as a leader in fire recovery by launching a foundation that brings together top engineering and technology companies to accelerate reconstruction in both Pallisard and Eton fire regions.
Times staff writer David Zanizer contributed to this report.
Source link
