The Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, approved budget cuts of nearly 18 million dollars within the local fire department last year. To a large extent, it was about not filling vacant administrative positions, but 7 million dollars had to be taken from the overtime budget. It concerned earmarked funds for, among other things, training and fire prevention measures.
The fire department's chief, Kristin Crowley, wrote as early as December 3 that the cuts "significantly limit" the fire department's preparedness for large-scale emergency situations, such as fires.
However, the Mayor said on Wednesday that she is convinced that the cuts have not affected the firefighting efforts of the fires that started on Tuesday.
Over 100,000 people in Los Angeles have been ordered to evacuate. Thousands of buildings and homes have been destroyed in the historically extensive fires.
