
The devastating wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles County have left thousands displaced and entire neighborhoods in ruins, but behind the flames lies a story of mismanagement, neglect, and political priorities that have left the city woefully unprepared for disasters of this magnitude.
Freddie Escobar, President of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles County (UFLAC), is not holding back when it comes to assigning blame. His pointed criticism of L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and city leadership has brought to light long-standing issues within the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), compounded by budget cuts and a lack of resources.
In an interview with Breitbart News, Escobar outlined the dire state of the LAFD, noting that the department is “woefully understaffed” and ill-equipped to handle fires of this scale. “We need 62 new stations; 100 more firefighters and medics, more engines, trucks, medics,” Escobar said, painting a stark picture of a fire department stretched far beyond its limits. According to Escobar, the LAFD has been neglected for decades by its leaders, and that neglect came to a head as wildfires tore through the city.
One of the key failures, according to Escobar, was the decision not to pre-deploy additional resources on January 6th, a red flag day with high winds that were forecasted to exacerbate fire risks. Escobar revealed that the decision was made as an “operating funds decision” to avoid paying overtime. This cost-cutting move, he argued, left the department without the manpower needed to tackle the fires effectively in their critical early stages.
“If we had the resources that we’ve been asking for, that we need, in a city that’s been neglected by its leaders for decades … more could have helped,” Escobar said, highlighting the correlation between reduced funding and the scale of the disaster. He acknowledged that the fire itself was sparked by extreme winds and environmental conditions but insisted that the lack of adequate resources and staffing played a major role in the devastation.
Compounding the challenges were critical water supply issues that firefighters encountered while battling the blaze. Escobar pointed to “dry hydrants, or hydrants with little to no pressure,” which severely hampered firefighting efforts, particularly on the second day of the fire. He criticized the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) for failing to ensure that the water infrastructure was prepared for such emergencies, calling it another example of a city unprepared for the crises it routinely faces.
Adding insult to injury, Mayor Karen Bass’s budget cuts have further crippled the department. Bass slashed fire department expenditures by $17.5 million, including a staggering $19 million reduction to the overtime budget—this in a city that Escobar says is already dealing with chronic understaffing. These cuts have left the department unable to provide the personnel and resources needed to effectively respond to large-scale emergencies like the ongoing wildfires.
Escobar also emphasized the need for firefighters to have a voice in broader city planning decisions, such as water management and urban development. “Firefighters should be consulted on other issues as well, such as water management and urban planning,” Escobar said, suggesting that better collaboration across city agencies could help mitigate risks in the future.
From ensuring water pressure at hydrants to planning communities with fire safety in mind, he argued that the expertise of firefighters is crucial in preventing and responding to disasters.