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.

During the closing monologue of HBO’s "Real Time," host Bill Maher trashed the government for how they’re handling the wildfires that are ravaging Los Angeles.

Since Mayor Bass returned to LA, she has thanked the LAFD for their service and announced that the fires have been "fully contained."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ deputy mayor — whose purview included oversight of the city’s fire department — was placed on administrative leave last month after the FBI

The budget, approved last year by Bass, cut mainly administrative jobs but also axed about $7 million from its overtime budget.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass repeatedly dodged questions about her leadership and alleged lack of initial presence during the ongoing wildfires affecting the area.

The Los Angeles Fire Department rebutted speculation that its chief, Kristin Crowley, had been dismissed as crews continue to battle the wildfires across the region.

Bass has faced widespread outrage over her whereabouts after returning to Los Angeles from Ghana on Wednesday, 24 hours after fires ignited.

The Los Angeles Fire Department estimates that about 10,000 structures have been burned down or damaged in the city's fires. That includes houses, sheds, garages and cars. Celebrities who lost their homes in the fire included model and actor Paris Hilton, actor Billy Crystal, and actor Miles Teller. The death toll rose to 24 on Monday.

Karen Bass once promised she wouldn’t go abroad as the mayor of Los Angeles — now, as her city battles the worst wildfire in its history, she has five international trips under her belt during her term in office.

Former and current LAFD members also blasted Crowley for letting over 125 senior commanders retire under her watch, creating a crippling power void across the city’s different firehouses.