Los Angeles Fire Chief Warned Budget Cuts Could Impact Firefighters' Response

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley warned last month that the budget slash was hampering operations.

In a Dec. 4 memo, she wrote that the cuts "have adversely affected the department's ability to maintain core operations," CBS reported. 

A $7 million reduction in overtime hours "severely limited the Department's capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies" and affected their capacity for brush clearance inspections and residential inspections.

The fire department experienced a decrease by $17.6 million, or 2%, between the 2024-25 fiscal year and the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to city budget documents.

However, the city council in November approved a four-year $203 million contract with the firefighter's union to help boost wages and health benefits for staff, drawing from the budget's general fund.

The budget cuts drew criticism as firefighters continue to battle the deadly, destructive fires.

Mayor Karen Bass said the cuts did not impact the department's ability to handle the ongoing fires. 

"There were no reductions that were made that would have impacted the situation that we were dealing with over the last couple of days. She also emphasized the additional funds the department was set to receive from the city's contract with the union..."

Bass added: "The unprecedented wind storm, wind at such ferocity that we haven't seen in years, is the context in which we were dealing with this."