As raging wildfires consume Los Angeles, leaving it in devastation, Mayor Karen Bass faces criticism for proposed budget cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) that would have drastically changed the situation.
A leaked memo, reveals plans to slash an additional $49 million from the department’s budget.
The MEMO
The leaked memo, acquired by the Daily Mail, by an anonymous LAFD whistleblower operating under the pseudonym “LAFD Watchdog,” outlines a “worst-case scenario” plan to close 16 fire stations citywide.
These closures would come on top of $17.6 million in cuts already implemented in Mayor Bass’s latest budget, which had previously reduced the department’s capacity to prepare for and respond to large-scale emergencies.
The memo, sent to division chiefs and captains on January 6, states:
“The only way to provide a cost savings would be to close as many as 16 fire stations… This equates to at least one fire station per City Council District. The details of this plan have not yet been developed. This is a worst-case scenario and is NOT happening yet.”
Casualties from the wildfires
However, the timing of this proposal—just before the Palisades Fire erupted—has fueled outrage. More than 54 square miles have since been scorched, leaving over 4,000 homes and buildings destroyed and at least 10 people dead.
Current and former senior LAFD officers, expressed deep frustration with the proposed cuts according to the Daily Mail.
“They did not want this out. It’s an internal memo not to be distributed,” said a 25-year veteran of the department. “They’re trying to allocate more money for the homeless, and they need to start taking from everybody. But we already exhausted our budget. It’s already tapped.”
The firefighter described how budget constraints have already forced the department to halve its fire academy, forego essential equipment testing, and strip parts from broken fire engines to keep others operational.
“If you shut down 16 stations, that’s about 750 personnel gone. Then they expect us to take the same call volume. Yesterday alone, we handled 3,800 calls—almost double our usual daily volume. We’re already short 200 paramedics, and we’re on the verge of losing another 200 because we can’t keep up. It’s untenable.”
Sources revealed that Mayor Bass demanded the additional $49 million in cuts during a tense meeting with LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley. When Crowley warned that such cuts were impossible without severely compromising the department’s functionality, Bass reportedly responded, “Find it.”
Chief Crowley had already warned the mayor in a December 4 memo about the impact of the earlier $17.6 million cuts. She noted that the reductions had “severely limited the department’s capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies.”
The memo specifically highlighted a $7 million reduction in overtime staffing hours, which affected core operations such as training, fire prevention, and community education.
The ongoing fires have already caused an estimated $49 billion in damages, with destruction spanning from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena. According to Resist Times the Biden administration said that the federal government will cover up 100% of the damage done from the wildfires.
Current situation
- Palisades Fire: Only 8% contained after two days of relentless firefighting, this blaze has destroyed thousands of structures.
- Eaton Fire: Completely uncontained, it continues to threaten communities in northern Los Angeles County.
- Kenneth and Hurst Fires: Around 35% contained as crews work tirelessly to prevent further spread.
- Lidia Fire: The most contained at 75%, though still a threat to nearby areas.
The overwhelming call volume and lack of resources have pushed firefighters to their limits, raising questions about the city’s preparedness for such disasters.
Mayor Bass faces criticism
As the fires raged, Mayor Bass faced criticism for attending a presidential inauguration in Ghana earlier in the week, despite warnings of “critical” weather conditions that heightened fire risks.
At a press conference on Thursday, Bass defended her leadership, stating: “I just said what I believe is the most important thing for us to do right now. That’s going to continue to be my focus.”
However, her comments did little to quell frustration among Angelenos, who feel abandoned amid one of the city’s most devastating wildfire seasons.
The leaked memo and subsequent backlash highlight a broader debate about resource allocation in Los Angeles. While addressing homelessness remains a critical issue, many argue that diverting funds from essential services like firefighting jeopardizes public safety, particularly in a city prone to natural disasters.
Firefighters and residents alike are calling for greater transparency and a reassessment of budget priorities. As one firefighter put it:
“We’re here to save lives and property. But how can we do that when our hands are tied? We need support, not cuts.”
With the fires still raging and containment efforts ongoing, the city faces an urgent need to reconcile its budget constraints with the demands of an unprecedented crisis.
