Share
LOS ANGELES — The battle against a devastating November wildfire in Los Angeles County was hampered by politicians asking firefighters to check on certain homes.
The conclusion comes from an after-action review by the Los Angeles Fire Department, which joined Los Angeles and Ventura county departments in battling the November blaze, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
“A significant number of requests by political figures to check on specific addresses of homes to ensure their protection distracted from Department leadership to accomplish priority objectives,” the review said.
It didn’t provide specifics, the paper said.
Requests Not Uncommon During Large Fires
The Woolsey Fire destroyed more than 1,600 homes and other buildings from north of Los Angeles to Malibu before it was controlled. Four people died.
It was one of the largest wildfires in modern California history.
Ernst said that requests to check on specific addresses were not uncommon during large fires.
“Living in the city of L.A. or the county of L.A., we have to understand we probably have some of the wealthiest communities in America, and with that comes a certain amount of political power,” Ernst told the Times.
“We don’t see probably the same type of requests if we’re in a poor community in Northern California, as opposed to in Southern California, where I think there’s a higher expectation with people being able to call someone in city government and ask questions about their properties, and I think that was the gist of this particular challenge,” he added.
During the training session, Ernst said such requests should be sent through proper channels to ensure they don’t become a distraction while fighting fires.
The report says field observers should be deployed to “provide real time information and reconnaissance to address specific requests from political figures during a large-scale incident.”
RELATED TOPICS:
US Appeals Court Rejects Challenge to Washington Laws Concerning Transgender Minors
1 hour ago
Trump Says He Has Not Considered Clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell
2 hours ago
Fresno Police Arrest Felon in Connection With Drive-by Shooting
2 hours ago
US Clears Way for $8 Billion Paramount-Skydance Merger
2 hours ago
Trump Says US May Not Have a Negotiated Trade Deal With Canada
2 hours ago
Netanyahu, Trump Appear to Abandon Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations With Hamas
3 hours ago
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Julian Jay Haymon
3 hours ago
Trump Says There Is a 50-50 Chance of Trade Deal With EU
3 hours ago
Israeli Columnist Alleges Ethnic Cleansing Plan in Gaza
21 minutes ago
Categories

Israeli Columnist Alleges Ethnic Cleansing Plan in Gaza

US States to Get $608 Million From FEMA to Build Migrant Detention Centers

Trump: Strong Dollar Sounds Good but ‘You Make a Hell of a Lot More’ With a Weaker One

US Appeals Court Rejects Challenge to Washington Laws Concerning Transgender Minors

Trump Says He Has Not Considered Clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell

Fresno Police Arrest Felon in Connection With Drive-by Shooting

US Clears Way for $8 Billion Paramount-Skydance Merger
