(The Center Square) – U.S. senators from Florida and Wisconsin are starting an investigation into the devastating Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.
The blaze burned 23,448 acres between Jan. 7 and Jan. 31, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It resulted in 12 deaths and the destruction of 6,837 buildings, including homes, schools and businesses, in the coastal Pacific Palisades neighborhood between Santa Monica and Malibu.
U.S. Sens. Rick Scott, R-Florida, and Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, announced Monday they’re launching an investigation into the fire. They said their inquiries would look at “the failures surrounding the preparation for and response to this disaster.”
“Over the years, billions upon billions of federal taxpayer dollars have been directed to California to support fire management and disaster mitigation efforts,” said a news release from the Senate Special Committee on Aging, which Scott chairs. “Yet, on the day of the Palisades Fire, reservoirs were empty, fire hydrants went dry, and innocent people, including many vulnerable seniors, perished while thousands more lost their homes, businesses, and everything they owned.”
In January, California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered an investigation into why the 117-million gallon hilltop reservoir above the Pacific Palisades had been empty since 2017 for repairs to its plastic cover. A tear was discovered in the reservoir’s floating cover, which is required under federal law to prevent contamination of drinking water. Repair work had not begun by the time the Palisades Fire started. In a letter to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Newsom said he was deeply troubled by reports of the loss of water pressure to some local fire hydrants during the Palisades Fire and the reported unavailability of water from the Santa Ynez Reservoir.
After the senators announced their inquiries, Newsom issued a statement saying he welcomed their investigation. He noted their efforts complement investigations already taking place, including those by the federal government and the state. He also cited an independent review by the nation’s leading fire experts.
In August, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the city’s after-action report on the Palisades Fire is being held at the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, to avoid interference with a federal investigation.
“Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the after action report will be released in coordination with the United States Department of Justice,” Bass said.
In July, Bass issued executive orders to expedite the rebuilding of the Pacific Palisades by streamlining permits and creating a virtual library of pre-approved designs for projects.
But in August, President Donald Trump condemned the city’s slowness in issuing permits in the Pacific Palisades.
Bass’ latest rebuilding update at the end of July reported almost 300 building plans have been approved by the city.
“The first permit was issued 57 days after the start of the wildfires, more than twice as fast as permits were issued after the devastating Camp and Woolsey Fires,” according to Bass’ office.
Earlier this month, Scott wrote U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum about California wildfires. In his letter dated Sept. 3, Scott described his recent tour of the Pacific Palisades with Spencer Pratt, a wildfire victim who lost his family’s home.
“I was heartbroken by the wreckage, and I became concerned as people within the Palisades community shared their perspective on how much Los Angeles and California have mismanaged funds that were supposed to be directed to preventing and responding to these wildfires,” Scott wrote Burgum.
Scott asked Burgum to reply by Sept. 24 with information on what the senator called “California’s waste, mismanagement, and inefficiency.”
