We have multiple reports Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass knew of the grave fire risk to her city before she abandoned it for a taxpayer-funded “diplomatic” trip to Ghana in Western Africa.
Here’s the timeline of what we know so far courtesy of Lee Fang’s Substack page:
Thursday, January 2: The “National Weather Service explicitly warned Los Angeles about “extreme fire conditions” over the next week.
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Thursday, January 2: “Jonathan O’Brien, a meteorologist with the U.S. Forest Service, spoke to officials and posted openly about the incoming threat.”
Thursday, January 2: “O’Brien noted that weather models for Southern California showed a ‘strong-extreme Santa Ana wind event starting Tuesday 1/7.’”
Friday, January 3: “Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Los Angeles office… gave a briefing that warned that the lack of rain this winter season, coupled with forecasted strong wind, posed an imminent threat.”
Saturday, January 4: “Fire Weather Watches & High Wind Watches are in effect Tuesday-Friday next week,” warned the Los Angeles National Weather Service.
Saturday, January 4: Karen Bass jets off to Africa to attend the inauguration of Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama.
Monday, January 6: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) begins “emergency preparations for the expected fire danger.” Because he expected that brutal winds would create wildfires, additional firefighting resources (choppers, personnel, etc.) were sent to Southern California.
Monday, January 6: Bass remains in Ghana.
Monday, January 6: The Los Angeles Times warns of, “Unusual ‘life-threatening and destructive’ winds bring risk of winter fires, power outages to Southern California.”
Monday, January 6: Bass remains in Africa.
Monday, January 6: The National Weather Service knows what is about to happen and fires off this warning: “HEADS UP!!! A LIFE-THREATENING, DESTRUCTIVE, Widespread Windstorm is expected Tue afternoon-Weds morning across much of Ventura/LA Co.”
Monday, January 6: Karen Bass remains in Africa.
Tuesday, January 7: Los Angeles is hit with multiple deadly fires. Thousands of homes and businesses burn. Tens of thousands are forced to evacuate. Fire hydrants run out of water.
Tuesday, January 7: Karen Bass remains in Ghana.
Wednesday, January 8: The wildfires worsen. Huge swathes of Los Angeles look like they’ve been hit by a nuclear bomb. The city lacks manpower, water… More evacuations. More fires.
Wednesday, January 8: Mayor Bass finally shows up around noon California time and refuses to answer questions…
This must be one of the most tragic getting-what-you-vote-fors in our history.
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