Quote:
Originally Posted by gregndodgers
“Nearly 100 fire engines, trucks, and ambulances are out of service awaiting repairs. LAFD is already severely understaffed and experiencing unsustainable call levels and having these million dollar rigs out of service only makes things worse.”
~ LA Councilwoman Traci Park, Aug 6, 2024.
“My message is the fire department needs to be properly funded. "It’s not."
- LA Fire Chief Crowley. Jan 10, 2025.
The $7 million reduction in overtime hours "severely limited the Department's capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies.”
- LA Fire Chief Crowley. Dec 4, 2024
Right, it does not appear that money was an issue.
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Firetrucks, overtime hours, and training is not the droids you're looking for if you actually want things that could have or in the future will help the situation LA is currently experiencing.
This doesn't seem to be a left/right weird ass political issue.
This is a big deal that needs real solutions. The billions of personal property lost is a big deal. The displaced economic resources fighting this fire is a big deal.
If blame is really important, the damage is so extensive this very specific series of fires will be studied and results/suggestions will be made.
This event is so destructive it will change policy. What changes are to be made should matter more than anything. Money, hiring more people, and building new stations will most likely be part of these changes. While labor seems to be a major concern with these current fires, there is no amount of in-house labor or firetrucks driving to locations that have an impact on what is happening as much as water availability, localized water demand issues at a given moment, brush/land management, wind, etc...