@ "The budget cuts drew criticism as firefighters scrambled to contain the ongoing fires. In a Dec. 4 memo, LAFD Fire Chief Kristin Crowley wrote to the Board of Fire Commissioners that the budget cuts "have adversely affected the Department's ability to maintain core operations." Crowley said that a $7 million reduction in overtime hours "severely limited the Department's capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies" and affected their capacity for brush clearance inspections and residential inspections." _A month before fires, L.A. fire chief warned budget cuts were hampering emergency response_ - CBS News