LA Mayor Reflects on Ghana Trip Amidst Wildfires

In a recent interview with Weiss News, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her regret about traveling to Ghana just before a significant fire broke out in her city. She acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating, “Yes, I regret going, regardless of the circumstances.”

Bass further explained that she wasn’t fully aware of the risk the city faced when she left. “There’s honestly no way to know beforehand, and if you step back and think about it, you might wonder why I wasn’t informed,” she said, referencing Hurricane Force winds that caught her off guard.

Her trip faced backlash, especially since warnings about potential fires had been issued. Reports indicated that her team was aware of these risks before their departure. Upon returning, Bass found her Los Angeles neighborhood, particularly Pacific Palisades, severely impacted by destructive fires.

“I didn’t really get an explanation about the situation back home. I mean, I get that big weather events can surprise people, but…well, it just wasn’t just LA; it affected the whole county too,” she admitted.

During her long flight back, Bass mentioned she spent nearly the entire time on the phone discussing the emergency with local officials. She attempted to coordinate the city’s response while acknowledging the challenges of communicating during an emergency.

The mayor also discussed the prior removal of the Los Angeles Fire Department chief, which raised eyebrows, especially after the city faced such a significant crisis.

“Honestly, there were issues with our resources, but it seems like communication could have been better,” Bass reflected. “There were plans in the works for an emergency declaration while I was away, and it’s clear that we were preparing, but things got muddled somewhere along the line.”

When pressed about the department’s readiness, Bass indicated that financial constraints and previous decisions had hampered their ability to respond effectively. She also noted that negotiations with labor groups complicated budget allocations for firefighting resources.

As she looks towards the future, Bass remarked, “We’re examining our after-action reports, and I’m committed to understanding how we can prevent situations like this from unfolding again.”

Contact attempts to both Bass’s office and the Los Angeles Fire Department for further commentary were not immediately returned.