Los Angeles Fire Chief Christine Crowley appeared on CNN on Friday and said the city’s decision hampered the department’s ability to fight the devastating wildfires.
Monaka exterior Crowley said on “Jake Tapper’s Lead” that recent budget cuts have severely compromised the department’s ability to fight wildfires. He said the $17 million funding cut has seriously disrupted the department’s ability to operate.
“Yes, we cut our budget by $17 million, but as you know, when your budget is cut, it negatively impacts our ability to accomplish our mission. I also know that I’m not a politician. I want to be clear: I’m a public servant. That’s my job as a fire chief. [the] The Los Angeles Fire Department makes sure firefighters have exactly what they need to do their jobs. That’s why I’m talking to you today,” Crowley told Tapper.
“The Palisades Fire, we’ve all seen it. This is without a doubt one of the scariest natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles, and even if we added 100 engines, we wouldn’t have been involved in that fire. I can tell you that I didn’t get disappointed.”
Crowley said the situation was exacerbated by the removal of civilian status.
“Let me be clear: $17 million in budget cuts and the elimination of civilian jobs such as mechanics has had, and will continue to have, a profound impact on our ability to repair our equipment. . So over 100 pieces of fire equipment were out of service, and having those equipment and an adequate number of mechanics would have helped,” Crowley said.
Crowley said he has repeatedly warned city officials about the dire conditions at the fire station.
“For the past three years, I have felt very clearly that the fire department needs help. We can no longer sustain where we are. We don’t have enough firefighters. “We have requested multiple budgets, interim budgets, to show how understaffed, under-resourced and under-funded we are, and we have clear data that shows LAFD needs more support.” Crowley said. “We need 62 more fire stations. These reports also show that overall call volume has increased by 55% since 2010. And guess what? Masu.”
The fire chief said he has been directed to develop a budget reduction plan that could result in a staggering $48.8 million in cuts.
“We were also directed to develop a plan as part of the budget cuts, which could amount to $48.8 million, and I believe these additional cuts will reduce our ability to provide public safety.” “We rang the bell to warn that this could be extremely catastrophic, potentially resulting in the closure of 15 fire stations and the elimination of over 300 fire stations,” Crowley said. said. (Related: Victor Davis Hanson slams DEI hiring in California fire departments, ‘not muscle or experience’, just DEI)
Eaton Fire: We got another shot tonight. @DailyCaller News Foundation. Winds are said to still be pushing the embers further and authorities are very busy trying to slow things down. #pasadena | #California pic.twitter.com/sqf1qlR3bl
— Hailey Grace Gomez (@haileyggomez) January 8, 2025
A massive wildfire has destroyed entire communities in Los Angeles County, leaving hundreds of homeowners with only basic necessities. The Daily Caller News Foundation spoke to several victims who described how the fire irrevocably changed their lives.
“[At] At about 6 p.m., there was still no threat that the fire would reach Altadena. We packed up a bit, but didn’t think we’d be heading back home. So I just packed a few things that I needed to get to a hotel or stay here for the night,” Kasti Fortich told DCNF. “But then we postponed the evacuation until about 11 p.m., and that’s when the lights finally went out. We just left.”
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