Furious LA firefighters take rarely seen step in fight against Karen Bass: ‘Domino effect’
Los Angeles firefighters are expressing frustration over the city's handling of their department, citing long shifts and missed paychecks. They are pooling funds to support a sales tax measure aimed at improving their budget, which has remained stagnant despite rising demands. The firefighters warn that response times are increasing as they face a growing number of emergency calls with insufficient staffing.
- ▪Firefighters are working extended shifts, often exceeding 24 hours, due to staffing shortages.
- ▪The Los Angeles fire department has seen little growth in personnel despite a significant increase in the city's population and emergency calls.
- ▪Firefighters are facing payroll issues, with many missing paychecks and owed thousands of dollars.
- ▪The average response time for emergency calls in Los Angeles has increased to approximately 7 minutes and 53 seconds, exceeding national standards.
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Metro exclusive Furious LA firefighters take rarely seen step in fight against Karen Bass: ‘Domino effect’ By Jamie Paige Published May 25, 2026, 4:16 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The California Post on Google Los Angeles firefighters have broken ranks to tear into Mayor Karen Bass over the disastrous state of the department across the city. Officers revealed to the California Post they are trapped in marathon shifts, missing paychecks and going through hell while its budget flatlines despite rising risks of wildfires. They warned response times are climbing and emergency callouts are exploding but City Hall was refusing to pump in desperately needed cash.
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