Where was Mayor Bass when LA started burning? In Ghana. At an inauguration.The 2025 LA fires weren't caused by "high winds."
— Eric Hunley (@hunleyeric) January 13, 2025
Mayor Bass cut $17.6M from the fire department. Then an additional $1.7M was spent on DEI programs.
But the most damning failure? An empty reservoir.
Here's what really happened:🧵 pic.twitter.com/rZr1N5ryfT
She left Jan 4th AFTER the National Weather Service warned of "extreme fire conditions."
Leadership absent when LA needed it most.
Meanwhile, Governor Newsom refused to sign a "water restoration declaration" that would've brought Northern California water south.
His reason? Protecting the delta smelt fish.
He chose fish over firefighting capacity.
Even worse: LA had donated critical fire equipment to Ukraine.
Hoses, nozzles, protective gear - "surplus" they called it.
Now, LA firefighters lacked basic equipment to fight the flames.
Good intentions led to deadly consequences.
Then there's the arson angle:
Multiple fires confirmed as intentionally set. Two arrests made.
• Gloria Mandich (60) near Leo Carrillo
• Jose Carranza-Escobar in Azusa
• Suspected arsonist in Woodland Hills with blowtorch
The Pacific Palisades' primary defense against fire - the Santa Ynez Reservoir (117M gallons) - was EMPTY during the fires.
"Scheduled maintenance" they said.
Basic water pressure for firefighting? Gone.
Backup supply? None.
Lives and homes? Lost.
Let's look at some shocking numbers:
While cutting $17.6M from LA Fire Department's critical services, the city allocated an additional $1.7M for "Equity and Inclusion Staffing."
Fire prevention suffered while new programs grew.
Fire Chief Crowley, despite supporting DEI initiatives herself, warned:
"The city has failed this department."
Her urgent requests went unfunded:
• Critical firefighting positions
• Essential equipment upgrades
• Mandatory brush clearance
Basic safety took a backseat
The infrastructure problem:
• Outdated water systems
• Poor vegetation management
• Insufficient water storage
• High-voltage lines in fire zones
California spent decades ignoring these issues.
Another Factor? Eucalyptus trees. Introduced in 1850s, these "botanical time bombs":
• Contain highly flammable oils
• Create billions of flying embers
• Spread fire vertically AND horizontally
• Replaced native fire-resistant plants
Nature's perfect fire accelerant.
What experts begged for but never got:
• Regular controlled burns
• Native plant restoration
• Modern evacuation systems
• Early detection technology
• Early detection technology
Basic fire prevention ignored while millions went elsewhere.
Climate change? Maybe.
But here's the kicker: This damage was PREVENTABLE.
The same funds cut from fire services could have:
• Cleared crucial brush
• Upgraded equipment
• Hired more firefighters
• Improved detection systems
How about the "Let Malibu Burn" philosophy:
Mike Davis's controversial stance against protecting wealthy enclaves influenced policy.
Result? Reduced resources for ALL areas, wealthy or not.
Politics trumped public safety. Was it intentional?
• $17.6M cut from fire services
• $1.7M for DEI programs
• Chief's warnings ignored
• Basic prevention neglected
• "Let Malibu Burn" Philosophy
This wasn't a natural disaster. It was a policy disaster.
Bookmark this thread. It's just a start of what really happened.
Next time someone blames "high winds," show them the real story.
The truth needs to spread faster than the fires did. ~Eric Hunley
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