Los Angeles Fires Revive Debate Over Private Firefighters For the Rich
Private firefighters were deployed in Los Angeles, but the speed of the fires limits their role.
A fire truck during the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Jan. 7.
Photographer: Kyle Grillot/BloombergAs his Los Angeles neighborhood burned on Tuesday, resident Keith Wasserman posted a plea on X: “Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount.”
Wasserman, cofounder of real estate investment firm Gelt Venture Partners, sparked outrage online, renewing debate about the role of private fire-fighting services as increasingly fast-moving, climate-driven wildfires overwhelm governments’ ability to respond. Wasserman’s X account has since been deleted and he didn’t respond to a request for comment.