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Coming three months into the devastating Los Angeles burnout, media outlets, including the KTLA, are lagging behind efforts to get answers on what happened and how to prevent similar events in the future.
The Los Angeles Times reports that LAFD’s actions surrounding the Palisade fire are shrouded in secret as the city refused to release records.
KTLA is working on numerous other public record requests regarding the fire with LAFD, LA Water and Power Department, Emergency Management, LA City Council members, LA County Supervisors and others. There is a public record request, all published to KTLA regarding fire and response to fires. Some requests have been open for weeks, others have been delayed for months.
Photo: Palisade burns a house in Los Angeles
On January 16th, as the neighbours were still smoldering in the aftermath of the fire, KTLA reached out to LADWP to request communication with CEO Janis Sequinon related to the fire, repairing records related to the Pacific Palisade water shortage, Santay Nez Reservoir.
On February 24th, LADWP identified “responsive records” and assured KTLA that they would be there by March 20th. The DWP said it intends to make records available by April 17th.
Regarding the LA County Emergency Management Agency, on January 20th, KTLA called for communication from Eatonfire, Edison in Southern California, Kevin McGowan, director of the Emergency Management Agency related to digital warnings that have failed for many residents.
Aerial view shows the devastation caused by the Palisade Fire in Malibu, California on Thursday, January 16th, 2025 (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file)
On February 13, the office cited the unusual circumstances to search and collect these records, saying further responses would be provided by March 13. Further responses came, saying that by April 14 the department needed more time and expected an update.
When the questions surrounding the Palisade fire knew who knew what, KTLA demanded communication with Marqueece Harris-Dawson, president of the LA City Council. The request to Dawson’s office was filed on February 26th. Two weeks later, the response approved the request, but stated it was too complicated to complete in a short period of time.
On March 21, KTLA was reported that several records matched the request. This will be reviewed and provided by May 21st. This will be provided entirely three months after the request is submitted and four months after the fire.
KTLA also has requests for public records at LAFD, but some of them have been closed. Some have no responsive documents, some have edited documents, some have remained open. Previously reported:
Deleted messages, disappearing chat, LA controversy fire astorm | KTLA work concerns, media spin between texts to LAFD chief during wildfire | KTLA jumps into the firestorm: the fight to save the parisard | KTLA
In the aftermath of the fire, we also heard from KTLA about Los Angeles’ emergency management department. This is what we handle requests. “We appreciate your patience as our resources and personnel are stretched thinly to respond to the ongoing declared emergency that involves unprecedented wildfire recovery.”
KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl added: “In fact, the January fires are widely considered to be the most serious natural emergency in Los Angeles County history. In the aftermath of such destruction and devastation, the public deserves to know how these fires began and whether government agencies contribute to the cause or be responsible for the cause.
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