Report: LAFD Sought to Protect Mayor Bass After Palisades Fire Report

Department tried to minimize criticism of its handling of the devastating blaze that killed 12 people.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 11:26pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

According to a report obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Fire Department attempted to shield Mayor Karen Bass and other top brass from "reputational harm" caused by the city's handling of the devastating Palisades Fire in 2025. The LAFD allegedly tried to shape news coverage and limit tough questioning ahead of the release of the After Action Fire Report on the incident.

Why it matters

The revelations raise concerns about transparency and accountability in the city's emergency response efforts, as well as the relationship between the fire department and the mayor's office. The Palisades Fire was a major disaster that resulted in significant loss of life and property, and the public deserves a full and unbiased accounting of what went wrong.

The details

The LAFD document, which was last updated a day before the after-action report was made public, outlined a plan to "minimize tough Q&A" by requesting closed-door briefings with the Fire Commission and City Council. The department also hired public relations consultants to help with messaging regarding the fire. While Bass' office has denied directing the watering-down of the report, sources claim it was altered to reduce criticism of the LAFD's failure to pre-deploy resources ahead of the blaze.

  • The Palisades Fire burned 23,448 acres and killed 12 people in 2025.
  • The LAFD document was last updated on October 7, 2025, a day before the after-action report was made public.
  • In January 2026, LAFD Chief Jaime Moore acknowledged the after-action report was edited to reduce criticism of the department's leadership.

The players

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles who allegedly received an early draft of the after-action report and told the interim fire chief the report could result in legal liabilities.

Ronnie Villanueva

The former interim fire chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Kristin Crowley

The former LAFD chief who was removed from her position by Mayor Bass, citing her failure to pre-deploy firefighters and fire trucks ahead of the Palisades Fire.

Jaime Moore

The current LAFD chief who acknowledged the after-action report was edited to reduce criticism of the department's leadership.

Fire Safety Research Institute

An independent organization that conducted an analysis of the Los Angeles fires as ordered by state leaders.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Absolutely false, 100%. Just think about it for a minute. I'm the one who ordered the after-action report when the fire chief would not do it. I fired her. Why would I water down a report that essentially presented the information for why I fired her? That makes sense.”

— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Times)

“I ordered a separate independent investigation into the Lachman Fire -- a holdover fire from New Year's Eve that later erupted into the Palisades Fire -- to closely examine the department's decisions and procedures and determine where improvements are needed.”

— Jaime Moore, LAFD Chief (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The Fire Safety Research Institute's independent analysis of the Los Angeles fires, as ordered by state leaders, is expected to be released in the coming months.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the city's emergency response efforts, as well as the importance of an independent, unbiased review of the Palisades Fire to ensure lessons are learned and improvements are made to protect public safety in the future.