The Los Angeles Fire Department warned Democratic city leaders that slashing the department’s budget would hamper emergency response capabilities just weeks before devastating wildfires forced 70,000 residents to flee and destroyed thousands of homes in the city.
“The reduction… has severely limited the department’s capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires,” the department wrote in a December 4, 2024 memo to the Board of Fire Commissioners.
Democratic Mayor Karen Bass slashed the Los Angeles Fire Department budget by $17.6 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year, though she originally tried for a massive $23 million reduction.
The decrease was the second-largest cut in the city budget, even as Los Angeles allocated $1.3 billion for homeless services, nearly half of which went unspent according to city records.
The budget reduction forced $7 million in cuts to overtime hours used for pilot training, helicopter operations, and wildfire suppression.
“Without this funding, pilot compliance and readiness are jeopardized, and aerial firefighting capabilities are diminished,” LAFD’s memo stated.
Bass defended the cuts Wednesday after returning from her taxpayer-funded vacation to Ghana, where she was attending President John Dramani Mahama’s inauguration when the fires erupted.
“I am confident that it did not,” Bass said when asked if budget reductions impacted fire response. She dismissed criticism of her luxury overseas trip, saying, “Although I was not physically here I was in contact with many of the individuals that are standing here throughout the entire time.”
The Pacific Palisades Fire has grown to over 15,000 acres, while the Eaton Fire reached 10,000 acres and the Hurst Fire burned 500 acres.
At least five people have died and more than 1,000 buildings were destroyed as 100-mph Santa Ana winds fueled the flames.
“It’s all about leadership management, that we’re seeing a failure of, and all these residents are paying the ultimate price for that,” said Rick Caruso, who lost the 2022 mayoral race to Bass.
The LAFD issued an emergency call for off-duty firefighters to join the battle. LAFD spokesman Jacob Raabe acknowledged the strain, saying, “Any fire department, even our size, is stressed thin, which is why we call-in our mutual aid partners.”
One evacuated resident voiced frustration with Bass’s absence as the city burned: “I’m born and raised in Los Angeles, I spend my life worrying about when the earthquakes come, when the Santa Ana winds come. I plan my trips around this. For someone to be in charge of my town … where were you?”
Bass refused to answer questions about the budget cuts or her travel as she arrived at LAX Wednesday before meeting with California Governor Gavin Newsom to survey the damage.