During a news conference on Wednesday, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley addressed concerns raised by a recent report in the Los Angeles Times regarding the department's response to the Palisades Fire. The report claimed that the LAFD failed to pre-position about 1,000 available firefighters and dozens of fire engines on January 7 as winds intensified.
Chief Crowley stated that the department had pre-deployed necessary resources and followed protocol in anticipation of the wildfires. She emphasized that the LAFD had surged staff where possible to respond effectively to the evolving situation.
According to the report, only five out of more than 40 available water-carrying engines were staffed, and firefighters were not ordered to remain on duty for a second shift before the fire escalated. In response, Crowley explained that the department had utilized all available on-duty and special-duty personnel, surging resources beyond their usual capacity.
When questioned about the possibility of saving more neighborhoods and lives, Crowley expressed confidence in the efforts of the firefighters, stating that they had done everything within their power. She acknowledged the unpredictable nature of wildfires, describing the situation as a 'what-if' scenario.
Overall, Chief Crowley defended the department's actions, highlighting their adherence to established protocols and the deployment of additional resources in response to the Palisades Fire. The LAFD remains committed to continuously improving its emergency response strategies to better protect the community in future wildfire incidents.
