LA Mayor Karen Bass cut fire department funding by $17.6M months before wildfires turned city into hellscape

The Los Angeles Fire Department had its budget cut by a staggering $17.6 million this financial year, records show — as fire crews continue to battle out-of-control blazes currently ravaging the City of Angels.The drastic decrease in funding for the fire department was the second largest cut to come out of embattled Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass‘ 2024-25 fiscal year budget, according to city figures.

The police budget, meanwhile, increased by $126 million, a graphic shared by LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia shows.Bass had initially wanted to cut the fire department by even more — a staggering $23 million.The details on Bass’ budget slashing re-surfaced as the mayor faced widespread backlash Wednesday after it was revealed she was away in Africa for the Ghanian president’s inauguration — even as wind-whipped wildfires turned parts of her city into an apocalyptic hellscape.In her absence, Bass found time to praise firefighters and other emergency crews for working “overnight to protect Angelenos affected by fires.”“Angelenos should be advised that the windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning and to heed local warnings, stay vigilant and stay safe,” Bass said in a post on X.

The flames still burning uncontained as of early Wednesday have already destroyed homes and clogged roadways as tens of thousands of residents fled and strained resources. The frightening ordeal prompted the LA fire department to take the rare step of putting out a plea for off-duty firefighters to help battle multiple blazes tearing through the city.Reports were also emerging that firefighters were running out of water as they battle the growing wildfires in the area.Stay up to date with the NYP’s coverage of the terrifying Palisades fireCritics on social media were quick to blame Bass — and her budget cuts — for resources being strained as the disaster unfolded.

“Karen Bass cut the Fire Department budget by 418 million.Now she’s asking for voluntee...