Fought Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has revealed that her brother lost his Malibu home in the still-raging Palisades wildfire.
Bass, who has been widely ridiculed for the city's lack of preparedness for devastating fires, revealed the news Thursday during a Pacific Palisades Community Council Zoom meeting.
“The loss you are experiencing, I share indirectly. It also hits my family,” Bass told about 1,000 attendees, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Fought Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has revealed that her brother lost his Malibu home in the still-raging Palisades wildfire. (AP/Getty)
Distraught Lamar confronts newspaper by igniting wildfire response
“My brother, who has lived in Malibu for 40 years, has been through many fires and evacuated many times. This time he did not escape,” she said.
The Democrat said her brother's home “was my family's home where we went on holidays,” and that the loss of the home was “a type of shock and sadness that is a trauma that will stay with us for a long time.” Yes,” he said.
The Palisade Fire erupted on January 7, torching more than 23,000 acres, destroying more than 900 structures, and killing 11 people. As of Friday morning, it was 72% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire has burned 14,000 acres and is 95% contained, while the Hughes Fire, which started Wednesday, has scorched more than 10,000 acres and is 56% contained.
Bass has faced sharp criticism for her travels abroad and her reaction upon returning, despite fire warnings. She was attending an embassy cocktail party in Ghana as part of a delegation sent by the Ghanaian administration for the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama when the fire started.
On January 2, before the base departed for Ghana, the National Weather Service warned of the possibility of “extreme fire weather conditions” due to Santa Ana winds.
A helicopter drops water on the Palisade Fire in Mandeville Canyon on January 11, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Etienne Laurent)
Zachary Levi blames 'incredibly poor' leadership of LA wildfires, suggests 'criminal negligence'
Just days later, on January 7, the Palisades burned and residents were ordered to evacuate. According to the Los Angeles Times, she appeared to take the photo just before 8pm local time. In Los Angeles it was 12 p.m.
Also last month, the Los Angeles Fire Department chief said Bass said nearly $18 million in budget cuts would plunge it into “unprecedented operational challenges” and hamper its ability to respond to large-scale emergencies like wildfires. I made it clear that there is.
The budget measure was signed by Bass, and she denies that the cuts are hindering the city's response. Bass says there will be time to evaluate the response at a later date.
Celebrities including Sarah Michelle Guerard, Patricia Heaton, and Jillian Michaels are calling for accountability from Bass, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and California leadership.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, right, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have been criticized for their lack of preparedness and response to the fires. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
Click to get the Fox News app
HBO host Bill Maher also criticized local officials, accusing them of prioritizing DEI initiatives over competent fire response. President Donald Trump has also been critical of Bass and the newspaper, accusing it of “gross incompetence.” Trump has even suggested that Newsom step down as governor, and locals are also questioning why the fire hydrants are empty.
Trump claimed a lack of forest management and claimed that Newsom reportedly refused to allow stormwater from the north to flow freely into Southern California.
Trump is scheduled to visit the Golden State on Friday.
Fox News' Rachel Wolf and Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
