An anonymous letter, reportedly written by current and former firefighters with the Los Angeles Fire Department, is calling for an independent investigation into the Palisades Fire.
The letter, obtained by NBC4, was emailed to Mayor Karen Bass and some council members. It said the Fire Department's After-Action Report wasn’t completely detailed and that the L.A. Fire Department can’t be trusted to investigate itself.
Councilmember Traci Park, who also received the email, told KNX News’ Jon Baid that she also believes that there should be an independent investigation into what happened.
“Given the magnitude and the scope and scale of what happened in the Palisades, it was very clear from the outset that this needed to be placed in the hands of a neutral, outside agency,” she said.
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Neal Steffin, whose mom lost her home in the Palisades Fire, also believes the investigation should not be handled by the department.
“With something of this scale and magnitude, you really do need an independent group to be investigating as much as that can be possible,” he told Baird.
Alexandra Von Tiergarten, who also lost her home in the Palisades Fire, also agrees.
“I would feel more comfortable if it was an independent [agency] taking a look at it,” she said.
The L.A. Fire Department declined to comment on the anonymous letter.
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