Hot Mic Catches Fire Department Mocking Fire Victims

Cal Fire – Palisades Community Meeting

During the Palisades Community Meeting on January 11, 2025, at 6:30 PM, a hot mic captured Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) or Cal Fire personnel laughing at fire victims.

Transcript:

Fire Victim 1: Thank you for your service.
Fire Victim 2: Thank you.
Fire Victim 1: Thank you so much.
Fire Victim 3: Thank you.
Fire Victim 2: Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Thank you.
LAFD 1: (laughing and mocking fire victims)
LAFD 2: (laughing)
LAFD 3: You know you could get in trouble for that.
LAFD 3: It’s got to be under the radar.
LAFD 1: No, I’m just playing (laughing)
LAFD 1: Yeah, I just have to be honest.
LAFD 1: You know. Yeah. When. Whenever.
LAFD 1: Whenever someone says, “thank you for your service,”
LAFD 1: I’m like, thanks for paying your taxes.
LAFD 2: (laughing)
LAFD 1: I appreciate it. I wouldn’t be doing this for free. I’m sorry.
LAFD 2: (laughing)

Source Video

Source video hosted by CALFIRE IMT 2 (timestamp: 1:58:14)
https://www.youtube.com/live/WGKwYFc5h7w?t=7094s

Presenters

Fire & Operations Officials

• Lucas Spelman: Information Officer for the Palisades Fire [10:11].
• Christian Litz: Operations Section Chief, Los Angeles County Fire Department [11:10].
• Landon Haack: Operations Section Chief, CAL FIRE [17:31].
• Rich Thompson: Incident Meteorologist [22:32].
• Joe Ever: Assistant Chief for Operations West Bureau, Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) [24:47].
• Jim Hudson: Unified Incident Commander, CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 2 [29:24].
• Robert Harris: Deputy Fire Chief and Incident Commander, Los Angeles County Fire Department [33:49].

Law Enforcement Officials

• Andrew Cruz: Captain and Incident Commander, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department [26:57].
• Mike Loren: Captain and Incident Commander (evening hours), Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) [38:03].

Elected Officials

• Brad Sherman: Congressman representing the district [43:13].
• Jackie Irwin: Assemblywoman [50:37].
• Jesse Gabriel: Assemblymember and Chair of the State Budget Committee [53:24].
• Doug Stewart: Mayor of the City of Malibu [57:41].

Other Mentioned Staff/Representatives

• John Alfred: Staff member for Congressman Brad Sherman [43:31].
• Joe Tony: Assistant City Manager of Malibu [59:44].
• Maryann Riggins: Mayor Pro Tem of Malibu [59:44].
• Drew Smith: Assistant Chief and Fire Behavior Analyst [01:04:02].