Employee raises and other expenses are expanding the Los Angeles Fire Department's budget. At the same time, the agency has had to scale back operations in recent months.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing withering criticism for her response to the firestorm ravaging her city.

As crews continue to put out multiple fires across Los Angeles County, residents have expressed worry about the city’s insufficient response. Criticism includes not being warned about the likelihood of the fires even happening as well as a shortage of both firefighters and water.