LAFD Faces Internal Revolt as Firefighters Question Examination of Palisades Fire
A scathing letter from current and former Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) personnel expresses a profound “lack of faith” in the department’s ability to conduct an impartial investigation into its handling of the lachman Fire and the subsequent Palisades Fire. The anonymous dialog,sent to Mayor Karen Bass,city councilmembers,and ABC7’s investigative team,arrives amid growing scrutiny of the LAFD’s response to the blazes.
The controversy stems from a report in the Los Angeles Times alleging that a battalion chief ordered crews to withdraw from the Lachman burn scar on January 2, despite lingering smoldering, a decision that may have contributed to the escalation into the larger Palisades Fire days later. Mayor Bass initially requested a “thorough” investigation from Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva on Friday, but the newly surfaced letter casts doubt on the objectivity of an internal review.
According to the seven-page document, signed by LAFD “Chief Officers and captains,” the authors are “beyond ashamed” and believe Villanueva is incapable of delivering an “accurate, thorough and impartial” report.The letter directly challenges the integrity of the ongoing inquiry, suggesting a systemic issue within the department.
Recent interviews conducted by ABC7’s “On Your Side Investigates” team appear to have fueled the discontent. Palisades Fire Incident Commander Joe Everett voiced confidence in the firefighters who ultimately contained the blaze, stating, “I have faith in those people. They put that fire out.” However, Deputy Chief Richard Fields, who oversaw planning for the January 7 wind event, admitted the preparations “wasn’t enough.” When pressed on why additional firefighters weren’t strategically positioned in the Palisades, Fields conceded, “Today, I couldn’t give you an exact answer as to why… I don’t have a specific answer for that.”
The letter writers cite thes interviews as evidence of a “lack of command and control” within the LAFD, indicating a deeper crisis of leadership.
In a statement released Monday, Mayor Bass’s office indicated the investigation will be deferred to the next Fire Chief, with a nomination of LAFD Veteran Jamie Moore pending review by the City Council in the coming weeks. The statement emphasized a “continued commitment to openness and accountability.”
The Mayor’s office stated, “Mayor Bass has called for a thorough investigation of the recent reporting of the Lachman Fire. That will happen
Why did this happen? The controversy began with a Los Angeles Times report alleging a battalion chief prematurely withdrew crews from the Lachman Fire burn scar, possibly allowing it to reignite as the Palisades Fire. This sparked concerns about the LAFD’s judgment and internal oversight.
Who was involved? Key figures include interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva, who was deemed incapable of an impartial investigation by LAFD officers, Mayor Karen Bass, who initially requested the investigation and then deferred it to the next Fire Chief, and LAFD veterans Joe Everett and Richard Fields, whose interviews highlighted internal disagreements. Anonymous LAFD “Chief officers and Captains” authored the letter of no confidence.
What occurred? A letter signed by high-ranking LAFD personnel expressed a “lack of faith” in the department’s ability to investigate its own handling of the Lachman and Palisades Fires. This followed reports of a questionable withdrawal of crews and admissions of
