New LA Fire Chief Defends Firefighters Amid Criticism Over Palisades Fire Response
Jaime Moore, the newly appointed chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), has come to the defense of firefighters who responded to the devastating Palisades fire, criticizing what he calls “media efforts to smear” their reputation. This comes after a report by the Los Angeles Times revealed that a battalion chief had ordered firefighters to leave the burn area of the January 1 Lachman fire, despite concerns that the ground was still smoldering, and that the fire would later reignite into the deadly Palisades fire.
Moore’s comments, made on his second day as chief, appeared to be in response to the Times’ report, which included text messages between firefighters and a third party, sent in the weeks and months after the Palisades fire. These messages indicated that crews had expressed concerns that the Lachman fire would reignite if left unprotected. Moore stated that he had yet to see any of these text messages and questioned the audacity of those making comments about the fire department’s response.
Shift in Tone from Previous Comments
Moore’s statements marked a significant shift from his comments last week, when he told the L.A. City Council’s public safety committee that the reports had generated an “understandable mistrust” of the fire department. At the time, he also expressed concern that firefighters’ warnings about the Lachman fire had not been heeded. Moore had also called for an outside organization to conduct an investigation into the department’s missteps during the Lachman fire, but on Tuesday, he said he would review the LAFD’s response to the fire, without specifying who would conduct the investigation.
In response to Mayor Karen Bass’ request for an investigation, Moore assured that he would look into the Lachman fire and learn from it, to improve the department’s response in the future. However, his change in tone has raised questions about the department’s commitment to transparency and accountability. The LAFD’s after-action report on the Palisades fire did not include any detailed examination of the reignition or the complaints from firefighters, despite victims and their families demanding answers for months.
Firefighters’ Accounts and Evidence
Text messages reviewed by the Times, as well as a video recorded by a hiker, support the accounts of firefighters who expressed concerns about leaving the Lachman fire unattended. The video shows smoke rising from the dirt on January 2, almost 36 hours after the fire started. At least one battalion chief assigned to LAFD’s risk management section was aware of the complaints for months, but this information was not made public or included in the after-action report.
Moore, a 30-year LAFD veteran, has stated that one of his top priorities is raising morale in a department that has faced heavy criticism for its handling of the Palisades fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes. The LAFD’s response to the fire was plagued by major staffing and communication issues, as described in the department’s after-action report.
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Image Source: www.latimes.com
