The Los Angeles Fire Department chief recently stated that his goal is to extinguish an East Los Angeles fire by midweek, a timeline that has drawn sharp criticism from residents and experts alike.

In a press conference, the chief outlined the department’s plan to address the fire. However, critics argue that such a delay is inconsistent with the resources available to the city’s largest fire department. Concerns include the department’s practice of maintaining bone-dry reserve water reservoirs and the recent burning of entire neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades. Officials have been questioned about their ability to respond effectively to fires in a timely manner, with one noting that “the moment any of that starts making sense to me is a very dangerous moment that I hope never comes.”