'I Feel Like I Failed You:' For One LAFD Leader, Palisades Fire Is Personal

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — As a third-generation firefighter in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles Department Assistant Chief Joe Everett's efforts leading the efforts to battle the Palisades Fire are very personal.

His grandfather's first assignment was at Fire Station 69 on Sunset Boulevard before finding a piece of property and raising his family there — in a house that burned down in the fire. His father retired as a captain at Fire Station 69; and now Everett leads the LAFD's West Bureau, which includes the Palisades area, he said.

"My blood runs deep there," he said during a meeting held for Palisades Fire victims Thursday. "It's extremely, extremely hard for me to look you in the eyes knowing that quite honestly, I feel like I failed you to some respect."

Everett's emotional remarks were met by yells of support and applause from an audience that included residents deeply frustrated by their continued inability to return to their homes — or what remains of them. To date, the fire has burned 23,713 acres and destroyed more than 5,000 structures. It is 31% contained.

Despite the weight of responsibility Everett expressed, local leaders have insisted the fire occurred in extraordinary circumstances, characterized by bone-dry conditions and 100 mph winds.

“I’ve never seen fire behavior like that in 39 years. This incident is going to go down as the most destructive fire incident in the history of Los Angeles County,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.

In introducing Everett, his boss — LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley — was steadfast in saying that her department's members are dedicated to serving LA residents. She recalled what she said recently to members of fire stations 23 and 69, the crews who were first on the scene of the Palisades Fire.

"I told them 'You can hold you heads up high — you served the communities that we love with the greatest capacity,'" she said. "I want to make sure that you understand that our firefighters who were there that day and throughout the rest of this event, they feel your pain.

"They're going to continue to support you and these are your LAFD firefighters and that will never, ever change."

Fire officials, including Crowley, have also sounded off about controversial budget decisions at City Hall.

Crowley voiced frustration in the early days of the fire about how a reduction in the department's budget and the elimination of civilian positions have hurt the city's response to the devastating wildfires ravaging the region. Her highly public complaints lead to an impromptu closed-door meeting with Mayor Karen Bass.

Read more:

• Evacuation Orders Lifted In Palisades Fire Zone
• Spared By Palisades Fire, Home Splits In Half In Landslide: Reports
• 'At Least 1 More Week' Before LA Fire Victims Can Return Home: FD
• ATF Calls In Elite Team Of Fire Investigators For Palisades Probe