LA Mayor blames others for missing wildfire crisis
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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced intense criticism for her response to devastating wildfires while she was thousands of miles away in Ghana, defending her absence by suggesting others failed to warn her against making the trip.
During an interview with Fox 11, Bass attempted to explain her controversial absence, claiming she wasn’t made aware of the fire warnings before departing on her Biden administration-sponsored journey to Africa.
“We need to look at everything about the preparation and all of that for the fires … I think when we evaluate that, we will find that although there were warnings, that I frankly wasn’t aware of…,” Bass told Fox 11 before noting the city’s preparation “wasn’t what it typically is.”
LA Mayor Karen Bass says she's really just a victim for being allowed to travel to Ghana when forecasts predicted massive Santa Ana winds that led to catastrophic fires.
She says there will be an investigation as to why she was victimized.
Unreal spin. pic.twitter.com/QF8irvdcgQ
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 19, 2025
The mayor deflected responsibility, suggesting that proper preparations weren’t implemented. She asserted that had appropriate measures been in place, she wouldn’t have left California at all.
Bass further justified her actions by stating that fire officials downplayed potential risks, characterizing the Santa Ana winds as a routine occurrence. She maintained that neither city nor county officials raised sufficient concerns about potential dangers or advised against her international travel.
Addressing the controversy, Bass announced two ongoing investigations – one examining the city’s response and another focusing on the fires themselves.
WOW 🚨 James O'Keefe just got evidence California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass KNEW THE FIRES WERE COMING
The real reason Karen Bass was busy in Ghana, Africa is she was obtaining a contract TO INTEGRATE MORE AFRICANS INTO CALIFORNIA
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) February 20, 2025
The mayor expressed personal regret about her absence during the crisis. “I will tell you that 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,” Bass said. “When I say it was a mistake, absolutely, the idea that I was not present was very painful.”
The Palisades Fire began January 7, intensifying overnight. Bass’s delayed return on January 8 drew additional scrutiny when she ignored questions from a Sky News reporter upon arrival.
The devastating blaze ultimately consumed nearly 24,000 acres, destroying over 6,800 buildings and damaging 973 more. State government data confirmed 12 fatalities resulting from the disaster.
