The gruesome and seemingly ever-growing fires in Los Angeles have been the number one trending topic in news and media for several days. Most of those concerned following this horrific event are looking for answers, yet none seem to make sense.
For starters, it appears the fire itself is not entirely the issue.
While burning homes and beloved belongings are being diminished to ash, it is evident that nature has no way of being controlled. However, the government has specific plans and protocols in place to carry out necessary aid in a perilous situation such as this to keep citizens safe. After all, that is what government funding is for — to ensure that even in the worst natural tragedies, there is a swift and effective response.
In California, the brave men and women fighting to put out the hundreds of acres of flames must follow a standard procedure of safely hosing down as much as they can via fire hydrants. But what happens when there isn’t funding for those protocols?
Amidst these fires, LA Mayor Karen Bass is under deep water due to her alleged 2023-2024 fiscal budget cut. An initial proposal of cutting $23 million from the fire department seemed to be in the works, but with a supposed increase in individual pay. Additionally, many positions were cut within the department, thus sparking a shortage of personnel to manage this crisis.
The fiscal budget is orchestrated by the government and is absolutely crucial in a situation like this, but when the question of cutting aid during a crisis is raised, it is hard to make sense of where the truth lies. With reasons appearing to be scarce and, nonetheless, irrelevant at this horrific time for LA residents, the citizens are learning that the measures being taken, or lack thereof, could be accredited to a cut of funding.
What are firefighters and first responders supposed to do when they don’t have enough financial means or colleagues to do their own jobs? Or to simply obtain water?
A New York Times article featured Capt. Kevin Easton’s response to one of the fires, and in defeat, he explains how tirelessly his team was working to combat the fire. Easton talked about the team’s lack of resources to the Times, recalling, “Then around midnight, their water lines started to sputter. Before long, the hydrants had run dry.”
Try to humbly put yourself in these heroes’ shoes. Because of a claimed budget cut for the department, imagine trying to tackle such issues when you don’t nearly have enough people. Per their job requirements, these firefighters are expected to put out fires and stop the further spread of damage from these raging conditions, and so many of them can’t. It is not only disappointing and sad but completely preventable.
This issue was brought up to the Board of Fire Commissioners more than once. Still, it was in December when LAFD Fire Chief Kristin Crowley wrote, “severely limited the Department’s capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies” and affected their capacity for brush clearance inspections and residential inspections.” As the present time is early January, it appears as though those concerns were neglected.
You might ask yourself where Mayor Karen Bass stands in her role during this tragic time. Bass actually wasn’t standing on California soil at all.
Just before tragedy struck, Bass went to Africa to attend the inauguration of Ghana’s 14th president, John Dramani Mahama. However, instead of quickly returning to her city as the fires raged, she remained in Ghana for a few more days, making a seemingly selfish decision.
While this might not have been a vacation for Bass, it feels as though attending an inauguration resided low on the California leader’s list of what was most important to be present for.
This struck great controversy and outcry in residential media, and she had not one word to say.
A viral video has surfaced showcasing a reporter questioning Bass about what she had to say about her brief disappearance, the fires, and anything regarding the pressing situation at hand. Bass stood there, silent.
This is one of the more obvious and apparent examples of silence speaking volumes.
Bass has since stated, “Rest assured that when that is done, when we are safe, when lives have been saved, and homes have been saved, we will absolutely do an evaluation to look at what worked, what didn’t work, and to correct or to hold accountable anybody, department, individual, etc. But my focus right now is on the lives and on the homes.”
Aside from the mayor’s controversial decisions, one could argue that these unfortunate circumstances are merely due to a lack of natural resources or solely the mass extent of the fire itself. While the fire is continuously being spread by the dry California climate and winds more powerful than a hurricane, it is clear that the impacts of this natural disaster might not be stoppable by humankind alone.
However, this is not the only fire California has seen, and it certainly will not be the last. In fact, the climate of California is a flame’s perfect environment to thrive. This raises the question of prevention and why the budget of those employed to fight these fires was cut so significantly if it is common knowledge that they are recurring and will occur in the future.
It is no secret that California is also one of the highest-paying tax populations, so it makes one wonder where that money is going if it is not to protect citizens.
The pure frustration, anger, and sadness felt by those affected are, without a doubt, unimaginable. Frustration due to an absence of aid that is out of reach to some victims and their homes, anger for the insufficient accountability and sadness about what has been lost and those we are unable to bring back. Not to mention, this is how the year is starting off for so many people and their families. It is heartbreaking and unexplainable.
When looking at the big picture, it almost seems unimportant to figure out why these fires started and the repercussions due to the damages, but more importantly, to give support anywhere possible. There are so many ways to bring awareness to those in need. A simple Google search, repost, or small donation is what these people, their pets, homes and livelihoods need.
Besides, when the day eventually comes when this is over, or at a point where the hurt is not as raw as it is now, justice will be served, and action will be taken.
To find out how you can help, click here.
Pray for California.
Ansley Graves is a junior at UT this year, studying journalism. She can be reached at [email protected].
Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to clarify the budgetary cuts made and include the statement made by Bass.
