The chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) warned a month ago that a nearly $18 million budget cut had presented it with “unprecedented operational challenges” that would hamper its ability to respond to large-scale emergencies. Like forest fires.
LAFD Chief Christine Crowley addressed the budget cuts in a Dec. 4 memo seen by Fox News Digital in which she predicted what she described as “ripple effects” the cost-saving measures would have on the department.
The city cut $17.6 million from the LAFD in its latest budget. The decision has been harshly criticized as several massive fires have swept through the county, and at least 10 people have already been declared dead. The disaster.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tour the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
The budget measures were signed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass — whose leadership has also come under scrutiny — and she denied that the cuts hampered the city's response. The cuts will take effect on July 1, 2024.
These cuts eliminated critical civilian positions and about $7 million from the LAFD's overtime budget, known as “v-hours,” Crowley wrote.
“These budget cuts have negatively impacted the department’s ability to maintain essential operations, such as technology and communications infrastructure, payroll processing, training, fire prevention, and community education,” Crowley wrote.
“The reduction in work hours…has severely limited the Department's ability to prepare, train, and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires, earthquakes, hazardous materials incidents, and large public events,” Crowley wrote in the memo. .
Flames from the Palisades Fire burn down a building on Sunset Boulevard amid a strong wind storm on January 8, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Abu Gomez/Getty Images)
Photo gallery: Barrier fire before and after
Different units and teams that depend on working hours are now at risk of “decreased effectiveness”.
The 21-page memo, titled “Los Angeles Fire Department Impacts on Operations,” went into more detail about the effects of the budget cuts. It was presented last month to the Board of Fire Commissioners, a committee of mayoral appointees who oversee the running of the department, according to a report by NBC Los Angeles.
For example, overtime was used in part to pay for FAA-mandated pilot training and to coordinate helicopter crews to suppress wildfires, according to Crowley's memo, which was submitted to the Board of Fire Commissioners.
“Without this funding, pilot compliance and readiness are compromised, and aerial firefighting capabilities are diminished,” the memo said. “Changes in the Air Operations Division impact the Department's ability to adhere to existing automatic and mutual aid agreements, provide air ambulance service, and rapidly respond to emergency situations.” forest fires With helicopters dropping water.”
Crowley called for funding to be restored.
“This report provides an in-depth analysis of these cascading impacts, underscoring the critical need to restore resources to ensure operational readiness, firefighter safety, and high-quality public service delivery,” she wrote.
Bass was asked about the budget cuts at a news conference Thursday and denied that the cuts diminished the city's response.
“No cuts have been made that would impact the situation we have been dealing with over the past two days,” Bass said.
“And then there was a little bit of confusion because the money was set aside to be distributed later, which was actually going to support salaries and other parts of the fire department that were distributed a little later. So I think what's more important is to understand that we were going through difficult times in terms of On budget, and everyone knew that, but the impact of our budget didn't really impact what we've been through over the last few days.
Firefighters build a blaze during the Eaton Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. in Altadena, California. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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In addition to the budget cuts, Bass faced criticism for being in Ghana to attend a presidential inauguration there when fires broke out in her city on Tuesday. President-elect Trump placed some blame on California Governor Newsom for the disaster, accusing him of refusing to sign a water restoration declaration and criticizing him for the low water levels. Contain fires.
Crowley told reporters on Thursday that fire barriers, Which remains 0% contained at the time of this report, “is one of the most devastating natural disasters in Los Angeles history.”
A spokesperson for the mayor's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
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Fox News Channel's Emmett Jones contributed to this report.
