LA Mayor Bass Regrets Ghana Trip as Wildfires Devastate City

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has openly expressed deep regret over her decision to travel to Ghana just before devastating wildfires tore through the city earlier this year. In a candid interview, Bass didn’t shy away from her feelings, stating, "Hell yeah, I regret going." She likened the situation to being away when a family member falls ill—location and purpose don’t matter; the guilt is overwhelming.

Bass insisted she had no inkling of the impending danger when she departed for the presidential delegation trip to Africa. "There was no way in the world I knew the city was in danger," she emphasized. However, reports have surfaced that her team was warned of escalating fire risks before her departure, casting a shadow over her claims of ignorance. Even so, Bass pointed out that no one, including fire officials, anticipated the hurricane-force Santa Ana winds that fueled the catastrophe.

Returning a day after the fires ignited, Bass found neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades reduced to ashes, with thousands of buildings destroyed. She spent much of her 12-hour flight back to the U.S. on the phone, coordinating emergency declarations and grappling with the unfolding crisis. Yet, the mayor faced sharp criticism for the trip’s timing and for what some see as a lack of preparedness.

Adding fuel to the fire, Bass made the controversial decision to remove Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley from her position in February. Crowley’s appeal against the termination failed, though she retained support from firefighters who felt she championed their cause. Bass, meanwhile, has accused detractors of spreading "lies" about budget cuts and idle fire engines, alleging that 40 engines sat unused due to staffing shortages under Crowley’s watch.

As the city sifts through the aftermath, questions linger about leadership, communication breakdowns, and whether lessons from this disaster will reshape future responses. Bass noted an after-action report is nearing completion, which may shed light on what went wrong—and how to prevent another such failure.