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politics1d ago
Senators probe experts during Capitol Hill investigation into Palisades fire
- The Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee probed the Palisades fire response, focusing on leadership and resource issues.
- Witness Patrick Butler criticized leadership and said responders were forced to improvise with inadequate resources.
- Former Los Angeles Battalion Chief Rick Crawford pointed to miscommunication and water resource issues during the fire.
- Lawmakers noted the after-action report and questioned how officials described the incident's response.
- Democrats urged action and urged the Trump administration to release additional federal disaster aid.
- Republicans criticized state officials and highlighted issues at the Santa Ynez reservoir during the fire.
- Witnesses asserted that water flow rate, not just water availability, hampered firefighting during the blaze.
- Sen. Rick Scott framed the hearing as seeking accountability and answers for victims.
- Sen. Johnson, who chairs the subcommittee, led the investigation into the Palisades fire response.
- The hearing occurred as California sought federal disaster relief funding totaling about $34 billion.
- The Palisades fire last year led to widespread destruction in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
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