Moore acknowledges pre-tenure edits that downplayed leadership criticism in the Palisades Fire review and vows stricter reporting practices.
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jamie Moore conceded this week that the official after-action report on the Palisades Fire was revised multiple times to soften language and downplay criticism of department leadership before its release, a revelation that has fueled calls for greater transparency and accountability in the wake of the deadly blaze.
Moore made the comments during a meeting of the Los Angeles Fire Commission, saying the edits occurred before his appointment as chief and pledging that “nothing of this sort will ever again happen while I am Fire Chief,” according to KNBC.
The Palisades Fire, which erupted Jan. 7, 2025, amid extreme winds and dry conditions, became one of Los Angeles’s most destructive wildfires, killing 12 people and destroying thousands of homes in Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas.
Initial drafts of the department’s after-action review reportedly contained more direct findings about preparedness and command decisions, but subsequent drafts altered the language to reduce explicit criticism of LAFD leadership, according to documented drafts obtained and reviewed by media outlets.
Moore, a 30-year veteran of the LAFD who was appointed chief in the late 2025, emphasized that the edits occurred before his tenure but accepted responsibility for preventing similar revisions going forward.
He did not identify the individuals responsible for the changes. The author of the original report, Battalion Chief Kenneth Cook, declined to endorse the final published document, stating the revisions altered key findings and did not meet professional standards.
The disclosure has reignited scrutiny of Los Angeles city leadership and the fire department’s handling of the disaster, with some critics noting that edits to internal reviews can undermine public trust and impede lessons learned from catastrophic events.
Mayor Karen Bass’s office has said it did not order changes and only sought factual verification of technical details.
