LAFD Chief Discusses Shortcomings and Changes After Palisades Fire

Acknowledging Failures in Fire Response

• 🚒 New LA Fire Chief Jaime Moore publicly acknowledged critical failures in the city's response to the recent Palisades and Lochman fires.
• ⚠️ Moore stated that some resources were delayed and response times were longer than desired during the Palisades Fire.
• 💡 He expressed that with current knowledge, the approach to fires in areas like the Palisades, Hollywood Hills, and Baldwin Hills would be more aggressive.

Implementing New Policies and Technology

• 🚁 Policy changes are already in place, including a recommendation to use drones with thermal imaging for any fire over an acre to detect holdover fires.
• 🔍 This new policy aims to prevent situations where undetectable holdover fires reactivate, a problem that occurred during the Palisades fire.
• 💡 The chief noted that critical heat detection equipment, like infrared cameras, was not deployed before the Palisades fire ignited, despite its availability and past use.

Rebuilding Public Trust Amidst Challenges

• 🤝 Chief Moore believes public trust must be rebuilt through the department's actions, a difficult task given current circumstances.
• 😥 He acknowledged that LAFD staffing levels are low, leading to overworked firefighters and a toll on their well-being.
• 📈 Despite challenges, the department is looking at long-term solutions, including mobilizing resources effectively for future fires and requesting a new helicopter and additional staffing.

Addressing Resident Concerns

• 😠 Residents who lost homes in the Palisades fire expressed anger, feeling failed by the city and holding a rally they called "They Let Us Burn."
• 💬 Moore understands the weight of these concerns and emphasized that actions, not just words, are needed to regain trust.
• ⚠️ The chief recognizes the difficulty in improving response times and preventing fires due to low staffing and increasing call volumes, but is committed to the challenge.