logo
Text messages show Mayor Karen Bass' response when she learned about the Palisades Fire

Text messages show Mayor Karen Bass' response when she learned about the Palisades Fire

CBS News28-03-2025

Newly released text messages from Mayor Karen Bass' phone reveal a bit about her immediate response when she learned about the Palisades Fire that erupted in the Pacific Palisades community on Jan. 7.
When the fire broke out around 10:30 a.m., Bass was in Ghana attending a reception with local and foreign officials for the swearing in of Ghana's President-elect John Dramani Mahama.
Bass' trip to Ghana
has garnered criticism, given the fact that weather officials had warned about dangerous wind and fire conditions before the blaze erupted. An
LA Times-UC Berkeley poll
shows that 41% of residents in LA described Bass' response to the firestorm as poor or very poor.
Bass addressed the text messages at a news conference Friday morning.
"What I would like the public to take from the text messages, is that although I was not here, I was engaged every minute I could possibly be engaged," Bass said.
The text messages are not a reflection of Bass' entire communication. They do not include other messages, emails or phone calls the mayor may have had.
The messages show that Bass received a message from her deputy chief of staff, Celine Cordero, at 6:48 p.m. while she was in Ghana, which would've been shortly before 11 a.m. in LA. Also included in the group chat was Bass' Deputy Mayor of Communications Zach Seidl and Chief of Staff Carolyn Webb de Macías.
"On phone with Chief Crowley now. 2 significant fires in city now. She will call you mayor," Cordero wrote. "Potential evacuations. Significant resources."
Cordero also noted the weather conditions, including that there were 40 mph winds while much of Southern California was experiencing a severe Santa Ana wind event.
The National Weather Service had
issued a red flag warning
for Jan. 7 for parts of LA and Ventura counties in preparation for a "particularly dangerous situation" caused by damaging wind gusts that were predicted to reach up to 80 mph. The NWS has also issued a fire watch for the same areas.
Within hours of erupting, the Palisades Fire grew and was fueled by wind gusts, spreading embers and igniting new hot spots.
Cordero's next message was sent at 7:33 p.m., giving Bass an update that an evacuation order was going to be sent.
"Palisades fire is now at 200 acres," Cordero wrote. "The Palisades Recreation Center will be used as an evacuation center."
The messages show LA County Board of Supervisors Lindsay Horvath texted the mayor at 7:50 p.m., asking if she needed additional support and if there was anything she wanted to put on her radar.
"Reaching out about the Palisades fire. I understand our County Fire Dept is supporting City and our Office of Emergency Management has been in touch with City staff, also," Horvath wrote.
Then at 8:07 p.m., Cordero told Bass that then-LA Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said homes would be lost soon and she would be meeting with her at the Emergency Operations Center soon.
Following the fires,
Bass officially removed Crowley
as chief on Feb. 21.
Crowley appealed her removal
to the LA City Council but was unsuccessful.
The messages then show Bass and her team working to coordinate her flight back to LA.
At 9:48 p.m., Bass sent a message reminding her team that she would have phone access while on the plane.
"I have phone access on the plane!!! If you see a strange number it's ME! 301 it will show as a military base," Bass wrote.
Then at 10:05 p.m., Cordero suggested having a call that the mayor could join.
"It would be great to pull together a GM call and have you join. Stress urgency, importance of all hands on deck? Departments need to have reps in EOC etc. During DC layover?" Cordero wrote.
While Bass was boarding a plane in Ghana heading back to LA, residents in the Pacific Palisades were being forced to evacuate and
dozens had to abandon their vehicles
on Pacific Coast Highway as flames crept closer, threatening homes and structures.
The morning of Jan. 8, Cordero sent Bass several updates from the LAFD while she was traveling back.
"From LAFD: We will be expanding the evacuation zone all the way to the Santa Monica city limits and all the way to the top of Mandiville Canyon," Cordero wrote at 2:54 a.m.
At 5:27 a.m., Cordero informed Bass that the LAFD said the fire had burned approximately 3,000 acres, all aircraft would be grounded due to wind and visibility concerns and that there were multiple civilian victims injured.
While Bass was flying back, she received messages from several local, state and federal officials offering their support, including Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Alex Padilla and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Janisse Quiñones.
Bass also received several messages from individuals in former President Biden's administration.
Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Kathryn Barger sent Bass a message at 5:50 a.m. informing her there was a fire in Altadena. Bass responded by asking if she was receiving full cooperation from her team.
"Absolutely… City has been incredible," Barger responded.
Data provided by FlightRadar, a flight tracking website, shows Bass' plane landed in Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland just after 2 a.m. local time on Jan. 8.
Bass then traveled to Dulles International Airport, where she boarded a flight to LAX. When she landed back in LA, it was around 11 a.m. local time on Jan. 8.
A few hours after landing,
Bass said she spoke to Biden
and was photographed with Newsom.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

June 2025 full moon: When to see the full Strawberry Moon rise above the Hudson Valley
June 2025 full moon: When to see the full Strawberry Moon rise above the Hudson Valley

Yahoo

time30 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

June 2025 full moon: When to see the full Strawberry Moon rise above the Hudson Valley

When does the June full moon rise, and will we be able to see it from the Lower Hudson Valley? June's full moon is set to appear at around 8:27 p.m. Tuesday, June 10. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, it will set at around 4:21 a.m., Wednesday. Will we be able to see it in the Hudson Valley? Read on for a forecast and other facts about this month's moon. Lower Hudson Valley astro-enthusiasts will have to contend with a 30% chance of showers before 8 p.m. the night of the Strawberry Moon's rise, a National Weather Service forecast says. Otherwise, skies will be partly-cloudy, with low temperatures around 60 degrees. An Accuweather forecast has a 19% chance of precipitation Tuesday night. Star gazers can look forward to another chance to see the full moon Wednesday, thanks to drier weather and mostly clear skies at night, according to the NWS. According to an Accuweather forecast, the region may see some wind gusts of up to 14 mph. With lows in the low to mid-60s, folks can look forward to a great night for stargazing. The full Strawberry Moon will make its appearance on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Similar to the Pink Moon, June's Strawberry Moon takes its name from the seasonal berry harvest, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Ripening berries are traditionally ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States. Other names for June's full moon include the Birth Moon, Hot Moon, Blooming Moon, and the Green Corn Moon. Lunar calendar 2025: Dates for full moons, supermoons, and a total lunar eclipse The New Moon will darken skies above New York on June 25. The next full Moon on the celestial calendar is July's full Buck Moon, set to rise July 10. (This story was updated to correct dates and times for this week's full moon rise.) This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: June 2025 full moon: When to see it in Hudson Valley NY skies

When is the next full moon? Here's the best time to see the strawberry moon in Iowa.
When is the next full moon? Here's the best time to see the strawberry moon in Iowa.

Yahoo

time30 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

When is the next full moon? Here's the best time to see the strawberry moon in Iowa.

June's full moon is a sweet one. Here are quick facts about it that skywatchers can snack on as June's full strawberry moon soars across Iowa's night sky. The next full moon is at 2:44 a.m. Wednesday, June 11. The June full moon is known as a strawberry moon. This is the sixth full moon of the year. June's strawberry moon takes its name from seasonal plant growth, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Many ripening berries were ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States. The name has nothing to do with the hue or shape of the moon. Here are the full moons in 2025, according to the Farmer's Almanac: July 10: Buck moon Aug. 9: Sturgeon moon Sept. 7: Corn moon Oct. 6: Harvest moon Nov. 5: Beaver moon Dec. 4: Cold moon Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning is expected to have clear skies. The full moon appears full the day before and after its peak, but it may be harder to see on Wednesday evening in Des Moines. There is a 40% chance of rain and thunderstorms. It will be mostly cloudy and carry into Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@ or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: When's the next full moon? The strawberry moon peaks this week

Strawberry Moon: When to see the full moon rise in June 2025
Strawberry Moon: When to see the full moon rise in June 2025

Yahoo

time31 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Strawberry Moon: When to see the full moon rise in June 2025

When does the June full moon rise, and will we be able to see it from the Hudson Valley? June's full moon is set to appear at around 8:27 p.m. Tuesday, June 10. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, it will set at around 4:21 a.m., Wednesday. Read on for a forecast and other facts about this month's moon. Hudson Valley astro-enthusiasts will have to contend with rain and possibly thunderstorms in the afternoon of the Strawberry Moon's rise, a National Weather Service forecast says, in much of the mid-Hudson. Otherwise, skies will be clear to partly cloudy at night, with low temperatures around 53 degrees. Stargazers can look forward to another chance to see the full moon Wednesday, thanks to drier weather and mostly clear skies at nigh. According to an Accuweather forecast, parts of the region may see some wind gusts of up to 17 mph. With lows around 60, folks can look forward to a great night for stargazing. The full Strawberry Moon will make its appearance on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Similar to the Pink Moon, June's Strawberry Moon takes its name from the seasonal berry harvest, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Ripening berries are traditionally ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States. Other names for June's full moon include the Birth Moon, Hot Moon, Blooming Moon, and the Green Corn Moon. Lunar calendar 2025: Dates for full moons, supermoons, and a total lunar eclipse The New Moon will darken skies above New York on June 25. The next full Moon on the celestial calendar is July's full Buck Moon, set to rise July 10. (This story was updated to correct dates and times for this week's full moon rise.) This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: June 2025 full moon: When it will rise, what weather will be like

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store