Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing mounting criticism after an explosive Los Angeles Times wildfire report alleged she altered a key after-action review of the deadly Southern California fires to downplay the city’s role. The wildfire report claims Bass intervened to soften or remove language that could expose the city to legal liability over preparedness failures tied to the blazes that killed 31 people.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Bass was concerned about the city’s lack of readiness and changed passages addressing failures to fully staff and deploy resources before the fires. One source described as a “Bass confidant” told the paper that “the mayor didn’t tell the truth when she said she had nothing to do with changing the report.”
Bass has denied the allegations, but backlash has intensified amid lingering questions about leadership decisions. The mayor previously drew scrutiny for traveling to Africa days before the fires despite hazardous forecasts. Critics say the controversy underscores broader concerns about accountability more than a year after the devastation.
“There’s no moving forward until we get the answers and the people that are responsible are fired,” said Spencer Pratt, who is running for mayor, adding that accountability should include “the fire chiefs… and the mayor.” Former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso called the report an “outrage,” alleging Bass “actively covered up a report meant to examine the most significant disaster in Los Angeles history.”
The Eaton and Palisades fires scorched nearly 38,000 acres and destroyed more than 16,200 buildings. Survivors continue to face delays from red tape and rebuilding rules, while questions persist over empty hydrants, response times, and brush clearance.
Bass’s office pushed back, saying she “made no changes to the drafts” and labeling the reporting “muckraking journalism at its lowest form.”
