LA Fire Chief Admits Palisades Fire Report Was Edited to Shield Leadership
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has come under intense scrutiny after Fire Chief Jaime Moore publicly acknowledged that the initial after-action report on the devastating Palisades Fire was edited to soften criticism of department leadership. The admission, made during a Los Angeles Fire Commission meeting on Tuesday, has reignited concerns about transparency and accountability in the wake of one of California’s most destructive wildfires.
The Palisades Fire, which erupted in January 2025, ranks as the third most destructive wildfire in California history, according to Cal Fire. The blaze ravaged the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, leaving lasting scars on the community and prompting widespread criticism of the emergency response.
Chief Moore revealed that multiple drafts of the report were altered before his tenure to reduce explicit criticism of the department’s leadership. “It is now clear that multiple drafts were edited to soften language and reduce explicit criticism of the department leadership in that final report,” Moore said, according to KNBC. He emphasized that these edits occurred prior to his appointment and pledged that such practices would not continue under his command.
The controversy surfaced following an anonymous letter sent to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmembers Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Traci Park last November. The letter alleged that the after-action report lacked thoroughness because it was overseen by fire officials who had been directly involved in decision-making during the fire.
Further complicating the department’s handling of the crisis was the Lachman Fire, a smaller brush fire that ignited on New Year’s Day 2025 in the same area. Chief Moore admitted shortcomings in the response to the Lachman Fire, which ultimately contributed to the larger disaster. “At the time, fire companies were instructed to pick up hose. The department genuinely believed the fire was fully extinguished. That was based on the information, condition and procedures in place at that moment,” Moore explained.
Investigations by the Los Angeles Times revealed that firefighters were ordered to leave the original burn site despite lingering hot tree stumps, a decision that raised questions about the thoroughness of containment efforts. Text messages from firefighters indicated that the battalion chief instructed crews to pack up and depart the area on January 2, one day after the Lachman Fire was declared contained.
The fallout from the Palisades Fire has continued to impact residents and officials alike. Pacific Palisades resident Rachel Darvish spoke out on the anniversary of the fire, criticizing California leaders for what she described as a “complete lack of accountability.” The fire’s devastation has also prompted calls for reform in wildfire prevention and emergency response protocols across the state.
Mayor Bass has faced criticism for her handling of the crisis, including her decision to travel to Ghana during the wildfire emergency. She later expressed regret for the trip amid mounting pressure.
The LAFD’s admission adds to a growing list of challenges faced by California’s firefighting agencies as they grapple with increasingly severe wildfire seasons, exacerbated by climate change and urban expansion into fire-prone areas. The U.S. Fire Administration emphasizes the importance of transparent after-action reviews to improve future responses and protect communities.
As the city and state continue to recover from the Palisades Fire, officials and residents alike are demanding greater transparency and accountability to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated. Chief Moore’s commitment to preventing further report alterations signals a step toward rebuilding trust, but the scars left by the fire and the controversy surrounding its aftermath remain deeply felt across Los Angeles.
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