After facing massive backlash for being in Ghana while wildfires ravaged Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass has blamed others for not warning her about the escalating crisis and announced an investigation into why she was allowed to travel during such a critical time.
In an interview with Fox 11, Bass claimed that she was unaware of the growing wildfire risks as she flew to Africa on behalf of the Biden administration. Despite widespread warnings, she said that fire officials did not alert her to the potential dangers, leading her to believe that her trip could proceed without issue.
“We need to look at everything about the preparation and all of that for the fires,” Bass told the outlet, per the New York Post. “I think when we evaluate that, we will find that although there were warnings, that I frankly wasn’t aware of.”
During the interview, Bass continued to emphasize that the city and county were not adequately prepared for the fires.
“That level of preparation didn’t happen, so it didn’t reach that level to me, to say, ‘Something terrible could happen and maybe you shouldn’t have gone on the trip,’” she said.
Bass also pointed out that fire officials did not raise alarms, with some telling her that the Santa Ana winds, which contributed to the fire’s spread, were a common occurrence.
“From the city, from the county, that level of preparation didn’t happen,” she said. “Fire officials said the winds were a common occurrence, so no one told me that I shouldn’t have gone.”
In the aftermath of the fires, Bass admitted that the decision to travel was a mistake.
“I felt absolutely terrible not being here for my city, and not being here for my family, who was impacted by the fires as well,” she said. “When I say it was a mistake, absolutely, the idea that I was not present was very painful.”
The Palisades Fire, which began on Jan. 7, destroyed nearly 24,000 acres and caused significant property damage, with over 6,800 buildings destroyed, as highlighted by The Post. The fire claimed 12 lives, according to state government data.
Bass returned to Los Angeles on Jan. 8 but was met with criticism for not addressing the situation immediately upon her return. She declined to answer repeated questions from a Sky News reporter about her absence.
Bass confirmed that two investigations are now underway: one to evaluate the city’s response to the fires and the other to assess the broader circumstances surrounding the blazes.
She emphasized that her decision to travel was based on the lack of warnings and preparation and that she is investigating why she was allowed to leave the country during such a critical time.
Her recent comments have sparked even more criticism on X.
Despite the backlash, Bass stood by her claim that the city was not prepared for the fires and continues to defend her actions, asserting that the lack of information from city and county officials played a major role in her absence.
