the setting looked almost cozy: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and a podcast host seated inside her home in two comfy chairs,talking about President Trump,ICE raids,public schools and the Palisades fire.
The recording session inside the library at getty House, the official mayor’s residence, lasted an hour. Once it ended, the two shook hands and the room broke into applause.
Then, the mayor kept talking – and let it rip.
Bass gave a blunt assessment of the emergency response to the Palisades and Eaton fires. “Both sides botched it,” she said.
She didn’t offer specifics on the Palisades. But on the Eaton fire, she pointed to the lack of evacuation alerts in west Altadena, where all but one of the 19 deaths occurred.
“They didn’t tell people they were on fire,” she said to Matt Welch, host of “The Fifth Column” podcast.
The mayor’s informal remarks,which lasted around four minutes,came at the tail end of a 66-minute video added to “The Fifth Column’s” YouTube channel last month. In recent weeks, it was replaced by a shorter, 62-minute version – one that omits her more freewheeling final thoughts.
the exact date of the interview was not promptly clear. The video premiered on Nov.25, according to the podcast’s YouTube channel.
Welch declined to say whether Bass asked for the end of the video to be cut. He had no comment on why the final four minutes can’t be found on the YouTube version of the podcast.”We’re not going to be talking about any of that right now,” he told The Times before hanging up.
Bass’ team confirmed that her office asked for the final minutes of the video to be removed. “The interview had clearly ended and they acknowledged that when they took it down,” the mayor’s team said Tuesday in an email.
In the longer video,Bass also talked about being blamed for the handling of the Eaton fire in Altadena,which is in unincorporated Los Angeles County,outside of L.A. city limits. Altadena is represented by L.A. county Supervisor Kathryn Barger,not Bass.
“No one goes after the Board of Supervisors,” Bass said on the original 66-minute video.”I’m responsible for everything.”
Bass, in an interview with The Times, said she made those remarks after the podcast was over, during what she called a “casual conversation” – a situation she called “unfortunate.” Nevertheless, she stood by her take, saying she has made similar pronouncements about the emergency response “numerous times.”
In the case of the city, Bass said, the fire department failed to pre-deploy to the Palisades and require firefighters to stay for an extra shift, as The Times first reported in January. In Altadena, she said, residents did
Los Angeles Mayor and Fire Chief Criticize Response to 2021 Palisades Fire
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A recent conversation between Los angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Fire Chief Kristin Crowley revealed mutual criticism of the response to the 2021 Palisades fire, which burned nearly 1,200 acres in Los Angeles. Both leaders acknowledged shortcomings in the handling of the blaze, attributing them to a combination of extreme weather conditions and failures in coordination. The fire, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, destroyed one home and damaged several others, prompting widespread concern about wildfire preparedness in the region.
The Palisades Fire: A Recap
The Palisades fire erupted on may 14, 2021, near the Getty Center in Brentwood, quickly spreading uphill towards residential areas. Los Angeles Fire Department resources were deployed,battling the flames amidst challenging conditions. The fire led to evacuations and temporarily closed sections of the 405 Freeway. While firefighters ultimately contained the blaze, the incident sparked scrutiny regarding the speed and effectiveness of the initial response. The cause of the fire was later determined to be a homeless encampment. NBC Los Angeles
Mutual Criticism of the Response
During a recent discussion, Mayor bass directly stated that “both sides botched it,” referring to the coordination between the Fire Department and other involved agencies. This assessment suggests a breakdown in communication or execution during a critical period.
Fire Chief Crowley, while acknowledging the inevitability of such a fire given the extreme weather conditions, did not dispute the Mayor’s assessment. she explained that the ferocious Santa Ana winds – reaching speeds of 100 mph – created a situation where ignition was almost unavoidable. “If it’s 100 mile an hour winds and it’s dry, someone’s going to sneeze and there’s going to be a fire,” she stated.
However, the Chief’s acknowledgement of the weather’s role didn’t negate the need for improvement in the response itself, as highlighted by the Mayor’s comments.
The Impact of Collective Grief
The conversation also touched upon the emotional toll of wildfires on the community. The Mayor emphasized the overwhelming grief experienced by residents, compounded by the fact that thousands of others were simultaneously facing similar anxieties and losses. This collective trauma underscores the importance of not only effective fire suppression but also robust support systems for affected communities. American Psychological Association provides resources on coping with trauma after disasters.
Wildfire Preparedness in Los Angeles
The Palisades fire served as a stark reminder of the ongoing wildfire threat facing los Angeles County. The region’s dry climate, coupled with Santa Ana winds, creates ideal conditions for rapid fire spread.
Here are some key initiatives underway to improve wildfire preparedness:
* Brush clearance: The LAFD conducts inspections and enforces brush clearance requirements to reduce fuel loads around properties. LAFD Brush Clearance
* Defensible Space: Homeowners are encouraged to create defensible space around their homes by removing flammable vegetation.
* Community Wildfire preparedness Programs: The city offers programs to educate residents about wildfire risks and preparedness measures.
* Enhanced Firefighting Resources: Los Angeles continues to invest in advanced firefighting equipment and personnel.
* Early Detection Systems: Utilizing technology like cameras and sensors to detect fires early.
Key Takeaways
* Both Mayor Bass and Fire Chief Crowley acknowledge shortcomings in the response to the 2021 Palisades fire.
* Extreme weather conditions,especially strong Santa Ana winds,played a significant role in the fire’s rapid spread.
* The incident highlights the importance of improved coordination and communication between agencies during wildfire events.
* Wildfire preparedness remains a critical priority for Los Angeles, with ongoing efforts to mitigate risks and protect communities.
the acknowledgment of failures in the Palisades fire response represents a crucial step towards improving wildfire preparedness in Los Angeles. By openly addressing shortcomings and investing in preventative measures, the city can better protect its residents and infrastructure from the growing threat of wildfires. Continued collaboration between city officials, the Fire Department, and the community will be essential to building a more resilient future.