A new documentary about January’s Palisades Fire shows California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass touring the Pacific Palisades as it burns behind them — with a contingent of firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department accompanying them instead of fighting the blaze.
The movie “Paradise Abandoned,” out in December, reminds us that the Palisades Fire will continue to haunt Bass as she seeks reelection — and Newsom as he pursues the presidency.
Newsom addressed adoring crowds of Democrats in Houston this weekend and even received a presidential endorsement or two, though he has not yet officially launched his campaign.
He touts his success in passing Proposition 50 — which defended California’s congressional districts in Democrats’ interests — while positioning himself as the party’s leader.
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A new documentary scheduled for release in December shows California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats, touring the fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades with firefighters in tow as much of the neighborhood burns to the ground behind them. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
But wildfire victims at home are openly threatening to undermine Newsom’s political prospects unless he makes amends.
And any change may already be too late for residents forced to sell their lots due to a lack of support from the state.
“Paradise Abandoned” claims authorities diverted firefighting resources during the blaze, which has burned more than 36 square kilometers, destroyed nearly 7,000 structures and killed 12 people.
“Paradise Abandoned” notes that despite the Pacific Palisades being in “a maximum fire risk region” leading up to January 7, no additional fire trucks were deployed there. (David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images))
It notes that despite Pacific Palisades being in “a region of maximum fire risk” prior to the predicted extreme winds on Jan. 7, no additional fire trucks were deployed to the area.
Residents are shown sneaking past roadblocks on the second day of the still-burning fire to find out what happened to their homes.
They discover that many have been burned, with few firefighters in sight.
“The response is so damn minimal,” says one.
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“The whole thing just burned to the ground, with the mayor and the governor within a block of the place,” recalled a resident of the Chase Bank Building. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)
Meanwhile, the film notes, many fire trucks were stationed on the outer edge of the fire — or at a command post in a beach parking lot beneath the city, where they served as a backdrop for local officials to host press conferences.
One resident remembers how the Chase Bank building caught fire and burned completely on the second day of the fire – while the governor and mayor were touring the area.
‘The mayor and the governor were in the middle of the city having a press conference. And in the background you can see the Chase Bank building burning to the ground. They did nothing. The whole place just burned to the ground, with the mayor and governor within walking distance of the street.”
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Newsom and Bass are flanked by firefighters.
“They didn’t do anything,” the resident said.
