'Worst-case scenario...': LA mayor Karen Bass slammed for $49 million fire department budget cuts before wildfires

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass is facing backlash after a leaked memo revealed she demanded an additional $49 million in budget cuts from the Fire Department just days before wildfires began raging across the city, Daily Mail reports.

The memo, dated January 6, was sent from LAFD leadership to division chiefs and captains, warning of the severe impact it would have on the department’s ability to respond to emergencies.

The leaked document detailed a worst-case scenario, with plans to potentially shut down 16 fire stations—one in each City Council district—leaving the department struggling to manage rising emergency call volumes.

The memo stated: “The only way to provide a cost savings would be to close as many as 16 fire stations... This is a worst-case scenario and is NOT happening yet.” However, sources inside the Fire department told Daily Mail that the budget cuts were already taking a toll, with vital resources stretched thin.

Speaking anonymously to Daily Mail, one firefighter said: “We’re already shy 200 paramedics, and we’re on the verge of losing more because we can’t keep this up. Fire engines break down, and we can’t even get parts for them. If we shut down 16 stations, that’s about 750 personnel, and they expect us to take the same call volume.”

These budget cuts come on top of $17.6 million slashes in the latest budget, which had already limited the department’s ability to prepare for emergencies. Fire chief Kristin Crowley had warned Bass last month that the $17.6 million reduction had "severely limited the department's capacity to prepare for, train for and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires." The cuts have impacted core operations like training, fire prevention, and community education.

The damage has been devastating as the wildfires continue to burn across Los Angeles. At least 4,000 homes and buildings have been destroyed, ten lives have been lost, and the Palisades Fire alone has scorched more than 54 square miles. With winds intensifying and drought conditions worsening, firefighters are struggling to contain the flames. The Palisades Fire is currently just 8 percent contained, while others, like the Eaton Fire, are completely uncontained.

The timing of Bass’s recent trip to Ghana for a presidential inauguration has also come under criticism. With warnings issued about "critical" weather conditions days before, many have questioned her decision to leave the city during such a dire situation. When asked about her leadership at a press conference on Thursday, Bass defended her actions, saying: “I just said what I believe is the most important thing for us to do right now. That’s going to continue to be my focus.”