Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Chief Jaime Moore has acknowledged shortcomings in the department’s handling of the Palisades fire report. His admission highlights significant flaws in the initial report and how it was revised to protect department officials from scrutiny.
LAFD Admission on Palisades Fire Report Changes
On January 7, 2025, a catastrophic fire in the Palisades area devastated the community. It resulted in 12 fatalities and the destruction of thousands of homes. The LAFD’s after-action report, however, was criticized for downplaying the department’s failures in addressing the disaster.
Chief Moore revealed that multiple edits were made to the report prior to his tenure as chief, which aimed to soften criticism directed at department leaders. “Nothing of this sort will ever again happen while I am fire chief,” Moore stated during his testimony before the city’s Board of Fire Commissioners.
Key Elements of the Report Revision
- The report’s author, Battalion Chief Kenneth Cook, did not endorse the final version due to significant deletions.
- A drastic rephrasing changed the term “failures” to “primary challenges.”
- Concerns about firefighter staffing and deployment were significantly altered, presenting a more favorable view of departmental actions.
- Specific details regarding violations of national guidelines by LAFD crews were removed from the final report.
In response to the issues raised, LAFD Assistant Chief Kairi Brown formed a “crisis management workgroup” ahead of the report’s public release. The focus was on managing communication strategically amid anticipated scrutiny from media and the community.
Community Reaction and Official Support
Community members expressed skepticism over the edited report. Maryam Zar, a local resident and leader of the Palisades Recovery Coalition, felt that the acknowledgment of missteps by Moore was easy due to the lack of accountability from previous leadership. “He’s not the fire chief who really should have stood up and said, ‘I didn’t do what I should have,’” Zar noted.
City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez welcomed Moore’s candidness but criticized the delays in admitting previous errors. Rodriguez expressed the need for a more timely acknowledgment of the department’s failures to mitigate ongoing questions about the fire’s management.
Future Actions and Investigations
Mayor Karen Bass has indicated her support for Chief Moore’s commitments and has called for an independent investigation into the LAFD’s performance. The aim is to better understand the mismanagement surrounding the New Year’s Day fire that reignited into the Palisades disaster.
Moore has stated that the LAFD believed the earlier fire was fully extinguished, emphasizing the need for stronger verification processes in the future. His comments signify a pivotal shift in the LAFD’s approach to accountability and transparency following a devastating incident.
