Around a month ago, the head of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) issued a warning about a budget cut of nearly $18 million. This reduction was said to have created unprecedented difficulties for the department, affecting its ability to effectively tackle large-scale emergencies such as wildfires.
Kristin Crowley, the Chief of the LAFD, expressed concerns about the budget cuts in a memo dated Dec. 4, which was revealed to Fox News Digital. In the memo, she predicted the negative ripple effects that the cost-saving measures would bring to the department’s operations.
The city decided to cut $17.6 million from the LAFD’s budget in its latest financial plan. This move has sparked intense criticism, particularly as numerous devastating fires continue to ravage the county, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 10 individuals.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tour the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on Jan. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
Fox News’ Emmett Jones contributed to this report.
