Palisades Fire Victim on Alleged Cover-up and LAFD Failures

Aftermath of the Palisades Fire

• 💔 Gene Cameron, who lost his home in the Palisades fire, discusses the ongoing aftermath nearly a year later.
• 📢 He emphasizes the critical need to disseminate information about the fire's handling and prevent future catastrophes.

LAFD Report and Management Issues

• 📄 An LA Times report reveals the author of the LA Fire Department's after-action report refused to sign the final version due to unacceptable edits.
• 📉 Cameron criticizes the LAFD's management, citing a lack of leadership with three appointed fire chiefs in one year, and alleges a total cover-up is developing.
• ⚠️ Key issues in the report revisions reportedly involved the failure to keep firefighters on duty for an additional shift and pre-deploy engines in high-risk areas despite dire wind warnings.

Broader Systemic Failures

• 💧 The problems extend beyond the LAFD, with Cameron pointing to the Department of Water and Power (DWP) for lack of water availability.
• 💰 He also criticizes Mayor Bass for cutting the fire department budget and being absent during the fire, and Governor Newsom for attributing the fire to climate change instead of human failure.
• 🛠️ A lack of budget for repairs meant 100 fire engines were under repair and unavailable, which could have significantly impacted the fire situation.

Calls for Accountability

• 🗣️ Cameron advocates for an open forum investigation involving citizens, residents, the PE, fire department personnel, management, the mayor's office, and the governor's office.
• 🚫 He expresses a great lack of confidence in the fire department's management, though he praises individual firefighters.
• 📢 A rally is scheduled for the 7th in the Palisades to bring attention to these issues, with a YouTube video titled "The Palisades Fire They Gave Up" detailing the events.