Los Angeles mayor under fire for mismanagement

In the US, major wildfires have scorched vast areas across Southern California, destroying homes and businesses and prompting thousands to flee their homes.

While the fire itself started due to dry weather conditions with strong winds fanning the flames, many in the US are now blaming government mismanagement as the main reason for the death and destruction that is ravaging the State of California.

Wildfires continue to rage across southern California, destroying more than 10,000 structures and prompting evacuation orders for hundreds of thousands of residents.

• US wildfires mismanagement
  

  US wildfires mismanagement

  While the fire itself started due to dry weather conditions and strong winds fanning the flames, many in the US are now blaming government mismanagement as the main reason.

As flames engulf swathes of Los Angeles, the Palisades fire on the city's Western flank and the Eaton fire in the East already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history.

Analysts project total economic losses at $50 to $150 billion. The fires have also killed several people, but officials say the death toll is certain to rise much higher.

• California firefighters battling wildfire near Los Angeles
  

  California firefighters battling wildfire near Los Angeles

  California firefighters battle a fast-moving wildfire.

As the fires spread across California, turning whole neighborhoods into ash, Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, and California Governor, Gavin Newsom, are facing strong criticism.

The two leaders are under fire for mismanagement of resources leading up to the disaster.

This is a true tragedy, and it's a mistake of the governor, I need to [sic] say the administration, they don't have any water.

They didn't have water at the fire hydrants, they don't have water.

President-elect, Donald Trump

Bass has been particularly criticized for being out of the country as wildfires rage in Southern California.

• At least 5 dead as wildfires devour districts across Los Angeles
  

  At least 5 dead as wildfires devour districts across Los Angeles

  At least five people have lost their lives as uncontrolled wildfires are ravaging through Southern California, devouring neighborhoods.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has called Bass utterly incompetent. She also faced further backlash on Wednesday after a video surfaced showing her ignoring a reporter's questions about the disaster for two minutes, the video quickly went viral on social media.

Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning?

Do you regret cutting the fire department budget by millions of dollars, Madam Mayor?

Have you nothing to say today? Have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today?

Reporter at Press Conference

• Looters, thieves targeting evacuation zones in fire-wracked LA
  

  Los Angeles under siege: Looters, thieves targeting evacuation zones in fire-wracked city

  Concerns have grown over thefts in Los Angeles, as looters and thieves are targeting homes evacuated by its residents due to the deadly, devastating wildfires which continue to rage across the US county.

As fire crews are fighting the fast-spreading fires, the efforts are repeatedly hampered by low water pressure and fire hydrants that have gone dry.

Experts say there are vulnerabilities in water supply systems as the storage tanks that hold water for high elevation areas and the pumping system that feed them, are not built for wildfires on this scale.

Meanwhile, California residents express deep frustration and despair as underfunded fire departments struggle to manage the crisis.

Here they only have two engines for this whole neighborhood, and they're out of water.

They ran out of water from the lines here, but they also don't have water in their trucks.

Firefighter

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Before the wildfires broke out across Los Angeles, the city fire chief had said that budget cuts were hampering the department's ability to respond to emergencies.

According to the city's budget document, funding for the LA Fire Department decreased by $17.6 million between 2023 and 2025. These cuts, according to officials, severely limited the fire department's capacity to prepare for and response to large scale emergencies.

While the US administration is still trying to figure out how to contain the flames, gusty winds are expected to return as early as Sunday after a little respite on Friday and Saturday, fanning more flames and spreading the raging fires to more areas across the country.

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