The firestorms that broke out in January ravaged two distinctly completely different stretches of Los Angeles County: one with grand views of the Pacific Ocean, the opposite nestled in opposition to the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.
However thus far, a push from congressional Republicans to research the Jan. 7 firestorm and response has been centered virtually completely on the Palisades hearth, which broke out in L.A.’s Pacific Palisades and went on to burn components of Malibu and surrounding areas.
In a letter to Metropolis Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, two U.S. senators this week intensified that investigation, saying they need an infinite trove of paperwork on Los Angeles Hearth Division staffing, wildfire preparations, town’s water provide and plenty of different subjects surrounding the devastating blaze.
U.S. Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) requested for data associated to a number of points raised throughout and after the Palisades hearth, together with an empty reservoir and the failure to completely extinguish a earlier hearth that was later recognized because the trigger.
In distinction, the letter solely briefly mentions the Eaton hearth, which broke out within the unincorporated neighborhood of Altadena and unfold to components of Pasadena. That emergency was stricken by delayed evacuation alerts, deployment points and allegations {that electrical} tools operated by Southern California Edison sparked the blaze.
Each fires incinerated 1000’s of properties. Twelve individuals died within the Palisades hearth. Within the Eaton hearth, all however one of many 19 who died had been present in west Altadena, the place evacuation alerts got here hours after flames and smoke had been threatening the realm.
Scott and Johnson gave Harris-Dawson a deadline of Nov. 3 to supply data on a number of subjects particular to town of L.A.: “range, fairness and inclusion” hiring insurance policies on the metropolis’s Hearth Division; the Division of Water and Energy’s oversight of its reservoirs; and the removing of Hearth Chief Kristin Crowley by Mayor Karen Bass earlier this yr.
Officers in Los Angeles County stated they haven’t obtained such a letter coping with both the Palisades hearth or the Eaton hearth.
A spokesperson for Johnson referred questions concerning the letter to Scott’s workplace. An aide to Scott instructed The Occasions this week that the investigation stays centered on the Palisades hearth however may nonetheless broaden. Some Eaton hearth data had been requested, the spokesperson stated, as a result of “they’re typically inextricable in public studies.”
The senators — who each sit on the Senate’s Committee on Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs — opened the probe after assembly with actuality TV star Spencer Pratt, who misplaced a house within the Palisades hearth and rapidly grew to become an outspoken critic of town’s response to the hearth and subsequent rebuilding efforts. On the time, the senators referred to as the Palisades hearth “an unacceptable failure of presidency to guard the lives and property of its residents.”
The investigation was initially billed as a take a look at town’s emergency preparations, together with the shortage of water in a close-by reservoir and in neighborhood hearth hydrants the evening of the hearth. The Occasions first reported that the Santa Ynez Reservoir, situated in Pacific Palisades, had been closed for repairs for almost a yr.
The letter to Harris-Dawson seeks data referring to the reservoir in addition to these coping with “wildfire preparation, suppression, and response … together with however not restricted to the response to the Palisades and Lachman fires.”
Officers have stated the Lachman hearth, deliberately set Jan. 1, reignited six days later to turn out to be the Palisades hearth. A suspect was lately arrested on suspicion of arson within the Lachman hearth. Now, the senators are elevating issues about why that fireplace wasn’t correctly contained.
The sweeping data request additionally seeks communications despatched to and from every of the 15 council members and or their employees that point out the Palisades and Eaton fires. At this level, it’s unclear whether or not town would have a considerable variety of paperwork on the Eaton hearth, given its location exterior metropolis limits.
Harris-Dawson didn’t present remark. However Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who serves on the council’s public security committee, made clear that he thinks the senators are confused by Southern California’s geography — and the distinctions between metropolis and county jurisdictions.
“MAGA Republicans couldn’t even take a look at a map earlier than launching into this ridiculous investigation,” he stated. “DEI didn’t trigger the fires, and these senators ought to take their witch hunts elsewhere,” he stated in an announcement.
Officers in L.A. County, who’ve confronted their very own onerous questions on botched evacuation alerts and poor useful resource deployment throughout the Eaton hearth, stated that they had not obtained any letters from the senators about both hearth.
Neither Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger — who at present serves as board chair — nor Supervisor Lindsey Horvath had obtained such a doc request, based on their aides. Barger represents Altadena, whereas Horvath’s district contains Pacific Palisades, Malibu and unincorporated communities affected by the Palisades hearth.
Monday’s letter additionally seeks data “referring or referring to any studies or investigations of arson, housebreaking, theft, or looting” in fire-affected areas, in addition to the arrest of Jonathan Rinderknecht, the Palisades hearth arson suspect. It additionally seeks paperwork on the council’s efforts to “dismantle systemic racism” — and whether or not such efforts affected the DWP or the Hearth Division.
Alberto Retana, president and chief government of Group Coalition, a nonprofit group primarily based in Harris-Dawson’s district, stated he too views the inquiry from the 2 senators as a witch hunt — one which’s focusing on L.A. metropolis elected officers whereas ignoring Southern California Edison.
“There’s been studies that Edison was chargeable for the Eaton hearth, however there’s [nothing] that reveals any concern about that,” he stated.
Residents in Altadena have beforehand voiced issues about what they considered as disparities within the Trump administration’s response to the 2 fires. The Palisades hearth tore by means of the largely rich neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Malibu — residence to celebrities who’ve since saved the restoration within the highlight. In the meantime, a lot of Altadena’s Black and working-class residents say their communities have been left behind.
In each areas, nonetheless, there was rising concern that now-barren tons might be swiftly bought by rich exterior traders, together with those that are primarily based exterior of the US.
Scott, in a information launch issued this week, stated the congressional investigation may even look at whether or not Chinese language firms are “taking benefit” of the hearth restoration. The Occasions has not been capable of independently confirm such claims.
