LA Mayor Karen Bass altered Palisades fire analysis to cut out criticism of Fire Dept: Report
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reportedly intervened in the official after-action analysis of the Palisades Fire to minimize criticism of the city and the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
The New York Post and Los Angeles Times investigators vited sources as saying that Bass was involved in revising the draft report in ways that softened key findings about preparedness and response to the 2025 wildfire.
The fire destroyed thousands of structures and killed 12 people.
Mayor Karen Bass waters down LA fire report
Bass, after seeing an early draft of the after-action report, wanted key findings of the LAFD’s shortcomings scrubbed or watered down.
She even warned then-interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva the unedited conclusions could expose the city to legal liability, sources close to the Democrat’s staff told the Los Angeles Times.
Bass was cautioned that the self-serving tweaks in the report were a “bad idea” that could harm her political career, but still withheld the working draft until after changes were made, insiders told the Times.
The original draft of the report reportedly detailed significant shortcomings by the fire department, including a decision not to fully staff or pre-deploy crews ahead of predicted catastrophic winds.
After Bass’ review, those sections were removed or rewritten to portray the department’s actions more favorably.
It commended department brass for going “above and beyond” with a standard “pre-deployment matrix,” despite the fire leveling over 16,000 homes and structures, causing $150 billion in damages, and killing 12 people.
Bass denies direct involvement
Bass has repeatedly denied having anything to do with the edits.
In a statement to The NY Post Wednesday, the mayor’s office continued to deny that Bass and her staff made any changes to the drafts.
“Mayor Bass has been unequivocal for months — she reviewed an early draft of the report and only asked the LAFD to make sure it was accurate on issues like weather and budget,” a spokesperson said.
“She and her staff made no changes to the drafts. The Mayor has been clear about her concerns regarding pre-deployment and the LAFD’s response to the fire, which is why there is new leadership at LAFD and why she called for an independent review of the Lachman Fire mop-up.
“There is absolutely no reason why she would request those details be altered or erased when she herself has been critical of the response to the fire — full stop. She has said this for months.”
Despite those denials, the report’s revisions have reignited debate over leadership and transparency in the wake of one of the most destructive wildfires in the city’s history.
