During the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, California, several firefighters were inhibited from lending their assistance on the front lines. The reason, as disclosed by California Highway Patrol (CHP) and KTLA news, was due to a large number of unserviced vehicles.
Annie Rose Ramos, a KTLA reporter, was allowed inside the Los Angeles Fire Departments (LAFD) largest maintenance yard located in Lincoln Heights. Here she observed numerous emergency vehicles that had not undergone necessary upkeep. LAFD union President Freddy Escobar explained that the fire department has been facing a fund crunch, not having enough mechanics or finances for the parts to repair the engines, trucks, and ambulances.
According to Escobar, the lack of well-maintained equipment impeded response to the wildfires. Several responders who reported for duty had to stay behind due to a scarcity of transport to the fire location.
Traci Park, an LA city council member, voiced her frustration over the sight of unused emergency vehicles, emphasizing the potential implications of these assets being out of service. The issue was attributed to budget constraints by LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley, who mentioned that although the extra vehicles may not have put down the fires, their availability could have helped save homes.
Both Escobar and Park stressed the need for action from city officials and Mayor Karen Bass to find solutions to the lack of adequate service and resources within LAFD. Park, for one, was lending her support to a recent bond measure, which could potentially raise funds for the necessary work.
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