LAFD Memo Outlined Plan to Shield Mayor, City Leadership from Palisades Fire Fallout

Internal documents show the department worked with PR consultants to manage potential criticism over after-action report

Feb. 23, 2026 at 6:40am

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Newly obtained internal documents reveal that the Los Angeles Fire Department developed a strategic communications plan to mitigate potential reputational damage to Mayor Karen Bass and city leadership ahead of the release of the department's after-action report on the deadly Palisades Fire. The 13-page memo, labeled 'for internal use only,' details efforts to coordinate messaging, hold pre-release briefings, and prepare for media coverage in order to 'protect' the mayor and the city from criticism associated with the report's findings.

Why it matters

The revelations raise questions about transparency and accountability around the LAFD's handling of the Palisades Fire, which resulted in the deaths of two firefighters. The memo suggests the department may have been more focused on managing political fallout than on fully addressing the report's conclusions and lessons learned.

The details

The internal LAFD memo, obtained through public records requests, outlines a strategic response plan that includes working with outside public relations consultants to develop a strategy intended to 'minimize tough Q&A' and 'secure alliance' with the Fire Commission and select City Council members ahead of the report's public release. The document states the goal is to 'prepare and protect Mayor Bass, the City, and the LAFD from reputational harm' associated with the report.

  • The memo was updated as of October 7, 2025, one day before the after-action report was publicly released on October 8.
  • Last week, additional records reviewed by media outlets included an email from an LAFD spokesperson referencing the mayor's 'guidance' regarding whether the then-fire chief should participate in further interviews or hold a press conference about the report.

The players

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)

The fire department that developed the strategic communications plan to manage the fallout from the Palisades Fire after-action report.

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What’s next

The release of the full after-action report on the Palisades Fire and any subsequent investigations or hearings by the Fire Commission and City Council will likely provide more insight into the LAFD's handling of the incident and the department's efforts to manage the political fallout.

The takeaway

This case highlights concerns about transparency and accountability in how public agencies, like the LAFD, respond to high-profile incidents that may reflect poorly on city leadership. The revelations raise questions about whether the department's priority was truly to learn from the Palisades Fire tragedy or to shield officials from criticism.