Sen. Rick Scott, Chair Ron Johnson Send Letter to LA City Council President Requesting Records into Pacific Palisades Wildfire, City’s Efforts to Redevelop Affected Areas

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Rick Scott and Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), sent a letter to Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson as part of their ongoing congressional investigation into the deadly Palisades fire, which devastated Los Angeles communities, caused billions in property damage, and resulted in the tragic loss of life. In their letter, the senators request records related to the city's wildfire preparedness, emergency response efforts, water infrastructure issues, and redevelopment plans in the fire-affected areas.

This letter follows numerous other letters from Senator Scott and Chairman Johnson as part of their investigation, including to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Chief Executive Officer Janisse Quiñones and the Los Angeles Fire Department's former Chief Crowley.

Senator Scott has also sent letters to the USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, DOI Secretary Doug Burgum, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and recently, a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asking for the secretary to review reports suggesting that Communist China has been taking advantage of these devasting wildfires by purchasing the destroyed land.

Read the letter to Councilman Harris-Dawson HERE or below:

Dear Mr. Harris-Dawson:

In January 2025, a number of wildfires, including the Palisades fire, devastated Los Angeles County, California. These fires caused billions of dollars in damage to homes and businesses, and tragically resulted in loss of life. Public reports have raised questions about Los Angeles's wildfire preparations and the response to the January 2025 wildfires, including the Palisades fire. For example, even though a suspect was recently charged with starting the Lachman fire, the Palisades fire appears to have been caused by a reignition of the Lachman fire, even though Los Angeles officials stated that the fire was "fully contained." Additionally, a July 2025 preliminary report issued by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power ("LADWP") identified issues with critical water systems necessary for fire suppression, including loss of pressure to fire hydrants. There have also been other allegations that the mismanagement of reservoirs led to a lack of water on the day that residents in Los Angeles County needed it most.

Pursuant to Senate Resolution 94 (119th Cong.), the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (the "Subcommittee") is conducting a review of Los Angeles's wildfire mitigation and suppression efforts, including the response to the Palisades fire. To assist the Subcommittee in its review, please provide the following information and records. Unless otherwise stated, the period of time covered by this request is from February 1, 2022, to present.

1. All records referring or relating to wildfire preparation, suppression, and response (including alerts, notifications, and evacuation plans) between December 28, 2024 and the present, including but not limited to the response to the Palisades and Lachman fires.
2. All records referring or relating to proposed budget cuts and workforce reductions at the Los Angeles Fire Department ("LAFD") or LADWP.
3. All records referring or relating to the Palisades and Eaton fires, including but not limited to:
4. 1. All communications between and among members of and employees at the City Council's Office;
   2. Any after action or other assessment of the cause of the Palisades and Eaton fires, including all communications related to the suspected non-natural or man-made causes;
   3. All communications referring or related to Jonathan Rinderknecht;6 and
   4. All communications with residents of the Pacific Palisades.
5. All records referring or relating to any reports or investigations of arson, burglary, theft, or looting in fire-affected areas, including but not limited to communications with law enforcement or emergency management agencies.
6. All records referring or relating to the Santa Ynez Reservoir and the Chautauqua Reservoir (also known as the "Palisades Reservoir"), including but not limited to all communications with the LADWP regarding the closure of the Santa Ynez Reservoir.
7. All records referring or relating to the February 21, 2025, removal of Kristin M. Crowley from her role as Fire Chief of the LAFD.
8. All records referring or relating to the creation or oversight of diversity, equity, and inclusion ("DEI") hiring policies for the LAFD and the LADWP from April 1, 2020, to present, including the budgetary impact of DEI programs or initiatives and how the City Council's "efforts to dismantle systemic racism" applied to these departments.
9. All records referring or relating to redevelopment in fire-affected areas, including but not limited to:
10. 1. Building or land-use permits, applications, or approvals;
    2. Proposed or enacted changes to regulations;
    3. Proposed or enacted zoning modifications or variances;
    4. Proposals for or approvals of low-income housing developments;
    5. Proposals for or approvals of multifamily housing developments; and
    6. The construction of public transportation stations.
11. All communications referring or relating to wildfire prevention, mitigation, or suppression, including but not limited to the Palisades fire, between members of and employees of the City Council and any employee or official with the following entities:
12. 1. LADWP;
    2. Los Angeles Mayor's Office;
    3. Office of the Governor of California;
    4. LAFD;
    5. Los Angeles County Fire Department; and
    6. Any federal agency or department.

Please produce this information as soon as possible, but no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on November 3, 2025. 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.

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