Legal disputes are intensifying over the city of Los Angeles’ management of the January 2025 Palisades Fire, which destroyed hundreds of homes, including those owned by prominent local figures, and resulted in two fatalities. The lawsuits allege serious negligence on the part of the city and its utility provider, focusing on inadequate preparations that contributed to the extensive damage.

Kenneth Bass, brother of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, has joined a class-action lawsuit against the city and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The suit claims that the city’s delayed and insufficient response to the wildfire significantly worsened its impact, leading to the loss of the Bass family home in Malibu as well as numerous other properties.

Separately, former reality TV personality and recent mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt has publicly expressed solidarity with Kenneth Bass, accusing Mayor Bass of “reckless negligence” in handling the wildfire. Pratt and his wife filed their own lawsuit last year after their residence in Pacific Palisades was destroyed in the fire. Their legal complaint points to failures by the city and LADWP in maintaining a sufficient water supply for firefighting, specifically highlighting the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which had been drained since early 2024 for repairs.

Pratt took to social media to announce his alignment with Kenneth Bass’s legal efforts, though he has not formally joined the class-action suit. Both lawsuits remain in the discovery phase. They focus on whether the empty reservoir impaired firefighting capabilities, thereby exacerbating property losses and damage.

A spokesperson for Mayor Bass’s office responded by noting that the mayor had publicly acknowledged her brother’s loss soon after the fire and emphasized that there is no new information presented by the lawsuits. The office did not directly address the allegations of negligence.

The Palisades Fire remains one of the most destructive in recent Los Angeles history, with estimated damages reaching billions of dollars. The ongoing litigation underscores the complex challenges faced by city officials in preventing and managing natural disasters amid growing concerns over infrastructure maintenance and emergency preparedness.