A former U.S. Attorney who worked under Vice President Kamala Harris has dropped a bombshell video exposing serious delays in the response to the Pacific Palisades fire. The video shows how the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) took nearly 45 minutes to act after the fire was first reported, a delay that, according to the former prosecutor, may have allowed the fire to spiral out of control.
Michel Valentine, a Pacific Palisades resident for over 40 years, shared the damning footage with NewsNation’s Rich McHugh. In the video, Valentine captures the harrowing sight of a fire growing uncontrollably while no firefighting efforts are underway. The video paints a chilling picture of how the fire could have been contained if it weren’t for the slow response.
The fire was initially spotted at 10:29 a.m. by Valentine’s wife while she was out walking their dog. She immediately called 911 to report the growing smoke, and emergency services were notified. But despite the growing danger, it wasn’t until 11:13 a.m., almost 45 minutes later, that any firefighting resources arrived at the scene.
In those critical minutes, the fire rapidly escalated. By 10:34 a.m., Valentine had begun filming the fire from his home, capturing footage of the smoke billowing into the sky. In a matter of minutes, the plume of smoke doubled in size, marking the fire’s swift spread.
Valentine, who has seen many fires in the area over the years, is adamant that a quicker, more aggressive firefighting response could have contained the blaze. “I disagree totally with those who say no amount of water could have stopped it. If there had been a prompt response, adequate water, and consistent efforts, this fire could have been contained,” he said in an interview with NewsNation.
The idea that the fire couldn’t have been contained with earlier intervention is something Valentine strongly contests. He explained that, given the fire’s location in wilderness areas away from homes, early intervention could have kept the fire from reaching residential properties. “This could have been handled if they had responded on time,” Valentine asserted.
He pointed out that in the past, the community had experienced similar fires, and the response was swift and effective. “I’ve seen fires in this area for 40 years, and there’s always been a good response. I don’t know what happened this time,” he said, expressing his disbelief over the lack of action.
In his interview, Valentine didn’t hold back in his criticism of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, holding her personally responsible for the delay in the response. He called the situation “criminal negligence,” going so far as to say that Bass should be held accountable for the failure to act quickly.
“As a former prosecutor, this verges on criminal negligence,” Valentine stated emphatically. “It’s just wrong, and a lot of people are at fault.” He placed the ultimate blame on Mayor Bass, accusing her of failing to ensure a timely and effective response from the fire department.
Valentine, who has had decades of experience in the community and as a legal professional, made it clear that he could never trust Bass again after this disaster. “There’s no way I could trust her again as my mayor in light of this tragedy,” he said, expressing a deep sense of betrayal.
While the Los Angeles Fire Department has confirmed the timeline of the 911 call, they have yet to offer a full explanation for the delay in deploying resources. As of now, the department has provided no further details or answers as to why the fire went unchecked for nearly an hour, allowing it to spread.
A Pacific Palisades man who witnessed the beginning of the fire says it could have been contained if crews had responded faster. He exclusively shared video with NewsNation’s @RichMcHugh that captured what he believes was a delay in response.
More: https://t.co/8FbvlHUrQc pic.twitter.com/f2JRqffrS8— NewsNation (@NewsNation) January 14, 2025
Mayor Karen Bass, for her part, has remained largely silent on the issue, despite Valentine’s call for accountability. The lack of a clear response has fueled further frustration among residents and critics alike, who believe the delay could have been avoided with a more proactive approach.
The Pacific Palisades community is left grappling with the fallout of a fire that could have been much worse if not for the eventual firefighting efforts. While the community begins to rebuild and recover, questions surrounding the response time and accountability remain unanswered.
Valentine’s video and statements have sparked outrage among local residents and even further afield, as people demand transparency and accountability from their elected officials. With calls for a deeper investigation into the handling of the fire growing louder, the situation raises important questions about the effectiveness of emergency services and the leadership in charge.
Valentine’s stance is clear: he believes the delay was not just a failure of response—it was a preventable tragedy, and those responsible should be held to account. The Pacific Palisades fire could have been contained quickly, and the community deserved better. Whether Mayor Bass and the Los Angeles Fire Department will face the scrutiny they deserve remains to be seen.
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