By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- The Los Angeles Fire Department’s after-action report on the 2025 Palisades Fire was sent to Mayor Karen Bass’ office for “refinements,” the president of the city’s Fire Commission said. FireRescue1
- Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva described the document sent as a “working draft.” FireRescue1
- Commission President Genethia Hudley Hayes raised concerns about potential outside influence on the report. FireRescue1
- Fire Chief Jaime Moore acknowledged that earlier drafts were edited before public release. FireRescue1
- Bass’ office said it sought only factual confirmations and did not demand changes. FireRescue1
LOS ANGELES, CA — A draft of the after-action report examining the 2025 Palisades Fire was sent to the office of Mayor Karen Bass for “refinements” before its release, the president of the Los Angeles Fire Commission said. FireRescue1
Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva described the document provided to the mayor’s office as a “working draft,” according to comments relayed by Fire Commission President Genethia Hudley Hayes to the Los Angeles Times. FireRescue1
Hudley Hayes, appointed to the commission in 2023, said she learned that the mayor’s office asked for refinements but did not detail what changes were requested. She said her experience suggested that such wording could signal outside influence on the report. FireRescue1
Fire Chief Jaime Moore acknowledged to commissioners that earlier versions of the report underwent edits before the public version was issued. He said that process occurred prior to his appointment and pledged such editing would not recur. FireRescue1
Officials from the mayor’s office said it did not demand changes and only asked the Fire Department to confirm the accuracy of certain factual elements, such as weather conditions and budget matters tied to the wildfire response. FireRescue1