Billionaire developer and former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso is turning up the heat on city officials, claiming they failed in their duties to manage the devastating Palisades Fire. On Saturday, Caruso shared a new report by Fire Rebuild, an independent watchdog group, alleging that the blaze could have been controlled if local leaders had acted responsibly.
Caruso, who famously protected his own Palisades Village mall using private firefighters and water tankers, said the report confirms what many in the community suspected: the fire wasn’t an unstoppable force of nature, but a man-made disaster fueled by neglect and poor leadership.
The report challenges the narrative that extreme winds and drought—often blamed on climate change—left officials powerless. It concludes the January 7, 2025, fire “occurred under historically typical, predictable, and manageable weather conditions.” Data from 48 weather stations revealed winds well below hurricane levels, no high wind warnings, and dry conditions in line with California’s usual climate cycles. The report states bluntly: “The only unprecedented aspect was the failure to contain the fire despite ample warnings and manageable conditions.”
Caruso’s critique has reignited scrutiny of Mayor Karen Bass, who narrowly defeated him in 2022 and is facing declining poll numbers ahead of the 2026 election. Critics say her administration mishandled the fire response, leaving residents to fend for themselves. Caruso has not announced whether he will challenge Bass again, but his latest statements suggest he’s keeping his options open.
The Palisades Fire has become a flashpoint for local anger over government accountability, with groups like Fire Rebuild demanding answers and reforms. Caruso’s intervention is likely to intensify calls for transparency—and could reshape the political landscape in Los Angeles once again.
