Palisades Fire Report Controversy Surfaces
Spencer Pratt, a candidate for the Los Angeles mayoral race, has claimed that insiders from the fire department informed him that the report on the Palisades fire was being altered by Mayor Karen Bass’ office.
Pratt, who gained fame as an MTV reality star, revealed he learned in October that significant findings were either edited out or modified in official documents to downplay the Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LAFD) shortcomings during the crisis.
The mayor faces allegations of diluting the report’s conclusions to minimize the city’s legal exposure, and also delaying the release of the draft until amendments that served her interests were implemented, according to reports.
Pratt mentioned there were multiple versions of the after-action report that had been altered following Bass’ directives. “This woman can’t be mayor,” he expressed emphatically one Thursday while at the site of the fire’s devastation.
“We can’t progress without clear answers. Those held accountable—including the fire chief, the battalion chief, and the mayor—need to be let go,” he insisted.
Recently, Los Angeles Fire Chief Jamie Moore confirmed that various drafts of the report had their language softened and criticisms of the department downplayed in the final version.
Neither Pratt nor Moore provided immediate comments on the matter when requested.
The October analysis notably left out crucial information, indicating that the LAFD failed to deploy an adequate number of personnel in anticipation of damaging winds, as it conflicted with city protocols.
This report instead commended department leaders for supposedly exceeding expectations regarding the “pre-deployment matrix,” despite the fire resulting in the loss of over 16,000 homes, 12 lives, and an estimated $150 billion in damages.
Rick Caruso, also running for mayor, criticized Bass by stating, “Karen Bass actively suppressed a report intended to examine the most significant disaster in Los Angeles history.” He expressed anger over the alleged cover-up, calling into question the public’s trust in her leadership.
Caruso stated that this situation transcends mere decision-making errors, highlighting a serious breach of public trust and revealing actions that contributed to fatalities.
In light of these allegations, Mayor Bass has firmly denied any wrongdoing regarding the modifications to the fire analysis.
In a statement, her office clarified, “Mayor Bass has maintained that she only requested LAFD to review a preliminary version of the report to ensure accuracy regarding factors like weather and budget considerations.” Despite her criticisms of the fire response, Bass’s office insisted there was no reason to alter or remove details from the report.
