In a press conference today, the Los Angeles Fire Chief announced his goal of extinguishing an East Los Angeles wildfire by midweek.

The statement has drawn criticism from observers who question the fire department’s ability to meet such a timeline. Critics note that the department has maintained dry water reservoirs despite repeated incidents where entire areas like Pacific Palisades have been destroyed by uncontrolled fires, and they point to historical challenges in managing large-scale blazes.

One observer remarked that it is “inconceivable” for Los Angeles’ fire department to address such a blaze within the timeframe claimed, given resource constraints and past inefficiencies.