In the midst of a tough wildfire season in Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass’ office is speaking out against rumors. A report surfaced on Friday claiming Bass had dismissed Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley after a meeting between the two. However, the Mayor’s office quickly denied these claims, calling the report “false.”
Why This Matters
The wildfires have already caused massive destruction in Los Angeles County, and both Mayor Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom are feeling the heat. As the flames spread, Newsom requested a review of the water pressure issues affecting fire hydrants and invited President-elect Donald Trump to visit the disaster zones. Meanwhile, Chief Crowley has faced her own share of criticism, especially over concerns about low water pressure in the area.
What Happened
On Friday afternoon, Bass and Crowley met as fires continued to ravage the Palisades and Eaton areas. While the details of their conversation remain unclear, Bass’ office stated that “The priority remains fighting these fires and protecting Angelenos.”
In a separate interview with CNN, Crowley made it clear that the fire department is struggling. “We don’t have enough firefighters,” she said, pointing out that they are also short on essential resources. “The fire department needs help.”
But the headlines took a turn when the Daily Mail reported that Bass had fired Crowley after the chief spoke out about department cuts impacting wildfire efforts. Bass’ office swiftly responded, calling the report “false.”
The Wildfires’ Toll
As of the latest updates, the Palisades fire was only 8% contained, having already spread across more than 21,000 acres. The Eaton fire has burned through 14,000 acres and is just 3% contained. Both fires remain under investigation for their causes.
What People Are Saying
The situation has sparked plenty of reactions on social media. Fox LA anchor Marla Tellez shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Bass’ office denied the dismissal report, but noted that Chief Crowley had spoken out about how budget cuts were making it harder to fight the fires. Crowley’s comments came just a day after Mayor Bass insisted that budget cuts weren’t affecting the firefighting efforts.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to criticize the handling of the wildfires, blaming both Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass. “Gross incompetence,” he said, referring to the slow response times and lack of containment.
Support and Assistance
Despite the chaos, some good news came on Friday. Mayor Bass shared an update on X, saying that 100% of disaster response costs are being covered by federal funds. She thanked President Joe Biden for the support, which will help provide more resources for firefighters and allow the city to rebuild after the devastation.
California Governor Newsom also provided an update, addressing insurance issues for those affected by the fires. He announced that residents in impacted areas would not face home insurance cancellations for the next year – a relief to those already struggling with the aftermath of the fires.
What’s Coming Next
With Santa Ana winds expected to pick up over the weekend and into next week, the threat of more wildfires is far from over. Let’s hope that the efforts to fight these fires are ramped up with more resources and support.
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation unfolds.