4 things you may not know about the Los Angeles wildfires

LA mayor cut fire dept funding by $17.6 million, took trip to Africa

As fires continue to devastate the region, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who was still out of the country as of Wednesday, faced renewed criticism after she slashed funding for the city’s fire department by $17.6 million in her 2024-25 fiscal year budget. 

The cuts, marking the second-largest reduction in the budget, came just months before wildfires ravaged the city.

According to city budget figures, the fire department’s budget was reduced despite growing concerns over wildfire risks and emergency response capabilities. In contrast, the city’s police department saw a $126 million increase in funding, as highlighted in a graphic shared by LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia.

Bass had initially proposed an even steeper cut to the fire department’s budget, suggesting a $23 million reduction before ultimately settling on the $17.6 million figure.

As of Wednesday, Bass was in Ghana as part of a four-member presidential delegation attending Tuesday's inauguration of John Dramani Mahama as Ghana's president.