Mayor Bass gives public remarks on wildfires
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass made public remarks on the devastating wildfires during a press briefing on Thursday as she faces criticism over how they have been handled.
"Los Angeles will stand united and stand strong," said Bass, who returned to the city after traveling to Ghana earlier this week to attend the presidential inauguration of John Dramani.
Bass had received criticism from some who said she should not have gone to the inauguration while red flag warnings were in effect.
"My thoughts are with the thousands of Angelenos who are impacted by this emergency, as more Angelenos were forced to make the terrifying decision to evacuate," she said. "Our priorities, of course, are to keep Angelenos safe and to protect homes."
Bass commended residents for following evacuation orders while noting Angelenos should "continue to proceed with caution," as the weather conditions have "created a perfect storm that has driven people from their homes and have taken people's homes, and that has taken people's lives."
"We have pre-deployed. We are executing a strategy, and we are adapting to conditions on the ground in real-time. This is absolutely an unprecedented, historic firestorm, but we are all hands on deck," she said.
