Los Angeles Wildfire Response Report Edited to Reduce Criticism
A senior official revealed on Tuesday that the report detailing Los Angeles’ response to last year’s wildfires has been modified to “soften” its criticisms of the fire department. This raises questions about Mayor Karen Bass’ involvement in the editing process.
In a surprising statement, Los Angeles Fire Chief Jamie Moore disclosed that the former interim chief had forwarded a draft of the LAFD’s report on the Palisades fire to Bass’ office for “improvement,” according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
“It’s become evident that various drafts were revised to tone down the language in the final report and lessen direct criticism of the department’s leadership,” Moore stated. “This editing occurred before I became fire chief, and I guarantee this won’t happen again during my tenure.”
At a recent Fire Commission meeting, Chief Moore reiterated that the report’s tone had been diluted to make it less critical of the department.
The initial draft of the post-action report differed significantly from the final version. Notably, a section criticizing LAFD’s decision not to fully deploy available personnel before the fire—something that appeared to contradict city policy—was removed, the Times noted.
Conversely, the finalized report commended the department’s leadership for exceeding standard procedures.
Meanwhile, Bass’s office refuted claims that she had a hand in the editing process. Spokeswoman Clara Karger pointed out, “The fire department was solely responsible for writing and compiling the report. We didn’t redline or review every page.”
However, former Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva indicated that the report had indeed been sent to the city for “improvement.” This sentiment was echoed by the head of the Civilian Fire Oversight Board, who suggested that such actions might imply an effort to avoid the perception of mishandling.
Mayor Bass has already been scrutinized for her management of the Palisades fire, especially due to issues with the evacuation process and her being out of the country during the incident. Critics are also questioning a significant budget cut of nearly $18 million to the fire department made in April 2024, amidst the ongoing discussions about the deadly blaze.
The fire tragically took the lives of 12 individuals and devastated substantial areas of the Palisades.
Concerns have also been raised about the integrity of the revisions, as the original report’s author reportedly declined to endorse the final version, labeling the changes as “highly unprofessional.” These adjustments have altered significant parts of the report that impacted the author’s conclusions.
