As Los Angeles County battles what could become the most expensive wildfire in U. S. history, the Los Angeles Fire Department ( LAFD ) is drawing scrutiny — not just for its inability to contain the flames, but for its troubling focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion ( DEI ) initiatives at the height of the crisis. Tens of thousands of hectares have burned, over 1, 000 properties have been destroyed, and there’s no confinement in sight. Despite the crisis, LAFD Assistant Chief Kristine Larson found time to encourage DEI during a 9-1-1 Fox commercial break, highlighting the importance of rescuers “looking like” the communities they serve.
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According to Kristine Larson, assistant commander of the Los Angeles Fire Department, people want a fire to show up who looks like them when their homes are burning downward. ( Here’s a hot take: maybe people just want a neighbor to show up and stop their homes from burning. )
” You want to see something that reacts to your house, your disaster, whether it’s a medical phone or a fire visit, that looks like you. According to Larson in the advertisement, it eases that person a little bit more knowing that someone might be able to understand their condition better. Incredibly, she goes on:” ‘ Is she powerful enough to do this?’ or ‘ You don’t have my husband out of a fire,’ which, my response is: ‘ He got himself in the bad place if I have to take him out of a fire.'”
LAFD Assistant Chief Kristine Larson:
Can I save your father from a fire, please? He placed himself in the incorrect position. photograph. twitter.com/BofTVr6dWP
— End Wokeness ( @End Wokeness ) January 9, 2025
The film concludes with a message stating,” Just about 5 % of working firefighters are people”.
Even the most enthusiastic opponents of personality politicians should consider whether or not variety for change’s sake is correct regardless of where you stand on the issue. In the midst of a lethal incident, DEI policies represent a harmful misallocation of sources and attention. Call me crazy, but when you’re facing a life-or-death position, the last thing you care about is whether the people coming to your recovery is white or black, queer or straight—what issues is whether you’re in competent hands.  ,
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Larson’s contemptuous response, suggesting that those who question such laws are responsible for putting themselves in harm’s way, is troubling. Imagine retorting a rape victim and telling her she doesn’t have dressed so innocently or should have kept an eye on her drink to make sure it wasn’t drank. That’s basically what Larson is arguing around.
True firefighters, not those who are La hires, constantly put themselves in harm’s way to save lives without blaming the prey, which makes this movie incredibly disrespectful to the rescue profession.  ,
The operational difficulties that Los Angeles fire crews have encountered have highlighted the practical repercussions of placing DEI prior to actual preparedness. Early this year, high winds and water shortages temporarily grounded air support, allowing the flames to spread unregulated. These problems raise a troubling problem: LAFD’s emphasis on DEI initiatives most certainly diverted sources from ensuring the department’s protection from a major hazard.  ,
After watching that business, is there any place in denying it?
Without a doubt, the Los Angeles fires have demonstrated the perilous effects of placing political correctness before the true, most pressing demands of emergency response and public health. In a problems like this, the interests should be easy: ability, planning, and the ability to answer properly — none of which should be compromised for the sake of diversity quotas.
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