{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2025/9/sen-rick-scott-chair-ron-johnson-request-records-from-lafd-for-congressional-investigation-into-pacific-palisades-wildfire", "Sen. Rick Scott, Chair Ron Johnson Request Records from LAFD for Congressional Investigation into Pacific Palisades Wildfire", "2025-09-17", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "FL", "Rick Scott", "S001217", "www.rickscott.senate.gov", "rickscott", "https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Rick Scott and Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), sent letters to former Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva requesting records and information related to LAFD\u2019s preparedness and response to the Pacific Palisades wildfires in January 2025. This comes as part of a congressional investigation launched by the senators last week into the deadly Palisades Fire that devastated the Pacific Palisades community in Los Angeles, resulting in billions of dollars in property damage and the tragic loss of life.\n\nRead the letter to former Chief Crowley below or both letters HERE.\n\nDear Ms. Crowley:\n\nIn January 2025, Los Angeles County, California was devastated by a number of wildfires, including the Palisades fire, which caused billions of dollars in damage to homes and businesses and resulted in loss of life. Public reports have since raised questions about Los Angeles County wildfire preparations and the response to the January 2025 wildfires, including the Palisades fire. For example, reports have alleged that, despite repeated pleas for additional resources and personnel, Los Angeles slashed the Los Angeles Fire Department's (LAFD) operational budget for Fiscal Year 2024\u20132025 by nearly $18 million and 61 positions. Further, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's July 2025 preliminary report found issues with critical water systems necessary for fire suppression, such as fire hydrants losing pressure.\n\nPursuant to Senate Resolution 94 (119th Cong.), the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (the \"Subcommittee\") is conducting a review of the Los Angeles County wildfire mitigation and suppression efforts, including the response to the Palisades fire. In order to assist the Subcommittee in its review please provide the following information and records. Unless otherwise stated, the period of time for this request shall be February 1, 2022, to present.\n\nAll records referring or relating to the Palisades fire and response between December 28, 2024, and present.\n\nAll records referring or relating to wildfire prevention, mitigation, and response measures, including but not limited to:\n\nfunding and budget requests;\n\ntraining;\n\nfire prevention support;\n\ncritical technology replacement;\n\nstaffing increases;\n\nimprovements to facilities and infrastructure;\n\nthe stocking of field resources;\n\nstandard operating procedures for communications during a wildfire; and\n\nafter-action reports from the Palisades fire.\n\nAll records referring or relating to the pre-deployment of assets and personnel for the Palisades fire, including but not limited to the staffing of LAFD\u2019s front-line fire engines, fire trucks, and paramedic ambulances, as well as the hiring and detailing of additional firefighters in anticipation of the weather event.\n\nAll records referring or relating to the City of Los Angeles\u2019 Prioritized Critical Hiring (hiring freeze), the existence of critical civilian vacancies, and the reduction of Overtime Variable Staffing Hours (V-Hours).\n\nAll records referring or relating to the International Association of Fire Fighters\u2019 study and recommendations regarding the LAFD, including report drafts.\n\nAll records referring or relating to the pre-deployment of resources responding to an active weather event during your entire tenure as Fire Chief.\n\nAll communications referring or relating to wildfire prevention, mitigation, or suppression between you and any employee or official with the following entities:\n\nLos Angeles Mayor\u2019s Office;\n\nOffice of the Governor of California;\n\nLAFD;\n\nLos Angeles Department of Water and Power; and\n\nAny federal agency or department.\n\nAll records referring or relating to an after-action report for the Palisades fire. Please include documents and communications regarding how the Tyler Izen investigation and the Fire Research Safety Institute investigation influenced the contents of the after-action report.\n\nAll records referring or relating to adverse employment actions you sustained in connection with the Palisades fire, including but not limited to your removal as Fire Chief on February 21, 2025.\n\nPlease produce this information as soon as possible, but no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on October 1, 2025. In addition, please preserve all records referring or relating to wildfire suppression, mitigation, or response. If you have any questions about this request, please contact Subcommittee staff at (202) 224-3721 and 202-224-0909. Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2025/9/sen-rick-scott-chair-ron-johnson-request-records-from-lafd-for-congressional-investigation-into-pacific-palisades-wildfire"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6023190692067146, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}