This past week has seen large sections of Los Angeles devastated by massive wildfires, with at least five people having lost their lives thus far.

Yet despite her city experiencing widespread destruction, Los Angeles' Democratic mayor has refused to provide answers about why she was absent. 

Mayor stays silent as reporter asks if she owes residents "an apology"

According to the Daily Mail, Mayor Karen Bass remained "stone-faced" and silent when confronted by Sky News reporter David Blevins on Wednesday.

The lady's not for talking... but it didn't stop us trying when we spotted LA Mayor Karen Bass on our flight. #wildfires @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/kgtpbBnGSG

— David Blevins (@skydavidblevins) January 8, 2025

"Fire chiefs say that they're really stretched to the limit and running out of water, what have you got to say to that? Have you no response to that?" Blevins demanded.

"Do you owe your citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning? Do you regret cutting the fire department by millions of dollars, Madam Mayor? Have you nothing to say today?" he continued.

Blevins then referenced recent criticism from social media mogul Elon Musk, who recently suggested that Bass is "utterly incompetent."

Bass traveled to West Africa despite warning of fire danger from meteorologists

The Daily Mail reported that Bass traveled to West Africa on Tuesday for the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Mahama, who was recently elected to his third term in office.

She made the trip despite meteorologists having previously warned that conditions for a catastrophic wildfire were present.

The paper noted how many residents have expressed outrage at local officials for logistical problems, including a failure to cut off electricity to power lines.

A reporter for Fox 11 witnessed the consequences of that, saying, "Literally seconds ago we heard a very loud boom and there was a tree coming down, and it hit those power lines - you can see them sparking."

Los Angeles resident says that "heads must roll for this disaster"

The Daily Mail also pointed to audio communications between emergency responders in which fire fighters can be heard admitting that they have no water.

"I just left the hellscape formerly [known] as Pacific Palisades where I’ve lived for 26 years," one resident was quoted as stating on social media.

"I’m mad at what I saw. Our politicians have failed us. Unprepared, unimaginative, understaffed, now overwhelmed. Heads must roll for this disaster," the Angelenos declared.