In a recent revelation, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has come under scrutiny for its handling of the Pacific Palisades fire, which continues to wreak havoc in the region.
According to The Post Millennial, a review of LAFD records by the LA Times indicates that the department's top brass chose not to deploy approximately 1,000 available firefighters and numerous water-carrying engines in anticipation of the fire.
A local couple reported that they alerted 911 about the fire's inception in the Palisades, but it took 45 minutes for any response to arrive. By that time, the fire had already gained momentum, fed by the increasing smoke and growing in size.
On Tuesday, January 7, as the fire began to spiral out of control, the department had the option to retain firefighters for a second shift. This move could have doubled the personnel on hand, but instead, the commanders allowed them to return home, staffing only five of the over 40 available engines to combat the blaze.
LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley defended the department's actions, stating, "The plan that they put together, I stand behind, because we have to manage everybody in the city." However, this sentiment was not echoed by former fire chiefs, who believe that the engines should have been "pre-deployed to fire zones."
Former LAFD Battalion Chief Rick Crawford criticized the department's approach, stating, "The plan youre using now for the fire you should have used before the fire. It's a known staffing tactica deployment model." The LA Times' investigation into department records revealed discrepancies in the number of available engines, further complicating the narrative.
Deputy Fire Chief Richard Fields, responsible for staffing decisions and equipment allocation, defended the department's actions, stating, "What we did was based on many years of experience and also trying to be responsible for the rest of the city at any given time of that day." However, this explanation offers little comfort to those who have lost their homes in the fire.
Critics argue that the city's leadership should be held accountable for the fires that have ravaged tens of thousands of acres. LA Mayor Karen Bass was in Ghana celebrating the new president when the fires ignited, despite the National Weather Service's intensified wind warning and the ripe conditions for a blaze. Questions have also been raised about the city's water supply, as the Palisades Reservoir was reportedly empty at the time.
Governor Gavin Newsom, who recently approved a $50,000 fund to "fight Trump," blamed Trump and Elon Musk for "misinformation" about the fires. He dismissed the idea that California's forest and water management policies could be contributing to the destruction.
It was only after the fire was officially declared out of control that additional firefighters were summoned and the remaining engines were deployed. Firefighters arriving in residential areas found dry fire hydrants, a problem attributed to water pressure issues. However, Crowley also pointed to cuts made by the Bass administration to the fire department, stating that the city had "failed" the LAFD.
Crowley defended her agencys decisions, saying that commanders had to be strategic with limited resources while continuing to handle regular 911 calls. She reported that the number of calls doubled from a typical day, to 3,000 at the LAFDs 106 fire stations, as the high winds downed trees and power lines.
The handling of the Pacific Palisades fire raises questions about the preparedness and resource management of the LAFD. As the city grapples with the aftermath of the fire, it is clear that a comprehensive review of the department's strategies and policies is necessary to prevent such disasters in the future.
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