What to know about the LA Fire Department’s budget

Firefighters face overwhelming challenge as fierce winds fuel uncontrollable blazes in Los Angeles [File: Etienne Laurent/AFP]

As wildfires have swept through Los Angeles, devastating the Pacific Palisades and surrounding neighbourhoods, many people have taken to the internet to blame the destruction on the mayor and budget cuts.

The critics included the Los Angeles Times owner, Patrick Soon-Shiong. “Fires in LA are sadly no surprise,” Soon-Shiong wrote on January 8 on X, “yet the Mayor cut LA Fire Department’s budget by $23M.”