The mayor, who issued a storm warning on social media on Monday, declined to address a reporter’s question on Wednesday about her delayed return to the city and evaded the inquiry again during a press conference on Thursday.
“First and foremost, our priority is to protect lives and properties. Once we ensure safety and save lives and homes, we will conduct a thorough evaluation to assess what worked, what didn’t, and take appropriate actions,” stated Bass. “Right now, our focus is on saving lives and homes.”
Following her attendance at the inauguration of Ghana’s president, Bass, a former U.S. representative, returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday as wildfires had already ravaged acres of land and destroyed properties.
Bass explained on Wednesday that she returned on the quickest available route, which involved a military plane.
Though experts believe it was impossible to fully prepare for such a disaster, critics have targeted the mayor over budget cuts to the city’s fire department. Despite initial cuts, additional funds were allocated until negotiations concluded in November.
The fire department saw an increase in funding compared to the previous year, with money allocated for hiring new firefighters and academy classes.
Bass emphasized the unprecedented nature of the fires and expressed frustration over reports of firefighters lacking water.
Fire hydrants are not designed to handle such massive devastation, and the primary issue, particularly on Wednesday, was the inability to deploy air support due to strong winds. “I am absolutely frustrated by that,” stated Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in response to criticisms regarding the management of wildfires.
