Wildfires tearing through the Los Angeles area have killed at least 24 people, displaced thousands of others and destroyed more than 12,000 structures since they started on Jan. 7.
Cal Fire reported that the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires have consumed about 62 square miles and there are more than 20,000 emergency personnel responding.
Several VERIFY readers asked us if it’s true that the Los Angeles mayor declined New York City’s offer to send firefighters to California, as some headlines have claimed.
THE QUESTION
Did Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass decline New York City’s offer to help fight the wildfires?
THE SOURCES
- New York City Mayor Eric Adams Jan. 13 press conference
- A spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and Jan. 11 press release
- Statement from the Los Angeles mayor’s office to the New York Post
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Dec. 12 X post
- Canada’s Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan
THE ANSWER
No, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass didn’t decline New York City’s offer to help fight the wildfires.
WHAT WE FOUND
Officials in California and New York City debunked claims Los Angeles rejected offers of aid from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) during the ongoing wildfires.
“We have never rejected resources – LA welcomes any and all help to fight fires,” Zach Seidl, deputy mayor of communications, told the New York Post. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he authorized the city to send support to Los Angeles and help hasn’t been declined.
During a Jan. 13 press conference, Adams addressed the claims that Los Angeles refused New York City’s help. He told reporters, “They did not turn down anything from us. I don’t know where those stories came from. That didn’t happen.”
Adams explained that California’s request for aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) specified personnel certified to fight forest fires, which New York City doesn’t have. But, Adams said, the city offered to send personnel to help manage the wildfire response.
“We have a little team for brush fires, but we’re not normally known for having large fires like they’re seeing. Now, what we did, I spoke to Zach Iscol [Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management] … I communicated with him over the weekend and stated that although we can’t give them what their broadcast through FEMA asks for, see if they’re willing to take what we do have, such as management, to give a break and relief to those who are managing the fires,” Adams said.
“Our heart goes out to Los Angeles. This is so devastating, what we’re seeing unfolding there, and our goal is to see, here’s what we can offer, and if you could use it, that we could help you in any way, we’re willing to do it,” Adams said.
There are currently firefighters from Mexico, Canada, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Idaho and New Mexico fighting the fires, Bass posted on X on Dec. 12.
Firefighters from Mexico, Canada, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and New Mexico are here. Our local, regional, and state partners have all stepped up to help.It’s all hands on deck to fight these fires.This is unity and partnership in action. pic.twitter.com/McmBMsvWCg
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) January 12, 2025
A spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told VERIFY California “has not declined mutual aid” and there are over 15,000 firefighting personnel on the ground, with hundreds from across the country.
More than 70 firefighters and disaster relief workers from the National Forestry Commission and Ministry of Defense in Mexico are also helping fight the fires, Newsom’s office also reported.
Canada’s Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says firefighters from Alberta and British Columbia were also dispatched to help fight the fires.
VERIFY reached out to the Los Angeles mayor’s office for comment but did not hear back at the time of publication. The New York City Fire Department declined to comment on the claims.