As fires rage throughout the Los Angeles area, the city’s leadership and officials are under intense scrutiny for their job performance in response to the blazes. What’s more, a report recently found that some of Los Angeles’s highest-paid employees work for the department accused of mismanagement.
A report from OpenTheBooks found that eight of the top 10 highest-paid city employees work for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
The highest-paid employee working for the city of Los Angeles in 2023 was Mark Chambers, a load dispatcher for the Department of Water and Power, making a total of $857,458, including $334,595 in overtime pay. The second highest-paid official in the city in 2023 was Fire Captain John Getchius, who made $801,389, including $613,931 in overtime pay.
Most of the pay for the 10 people on the list comes from overtime, with the report finding the average overtime pay for these people being $321,828. The total pay ranged from $606,095 to $857,458.
The findings come as reports spread of water shortages for some of the city’s fire hydrants, among other problems, while firefighters battle the infernos. Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has received criticism over her promotion of diversity initiatives after being appointed in 2022, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has drawn outrage over her muted response.
Bass’s salary, $304,434 in 2023, was the second highest for a mayor in California, behind then-San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who made $364,582.
The high pay rates for some officials come as for fiscal 2025, the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget had a $17.6 million decrease from the previous budget.
The three major fires that have ravaged Los Angeles are still 0% contained as of Thursday morning, while the Hurst fire is at 10% containment.
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The latest fire, in the Hollywood Hills, began Wednesday night after Pacific Palisades and other neighborhoods attempted to stave off the infernos. Bass, who returned from her trip to Ghana on Wednesday, expressed her gratitude to the firefighters for fighting throughout the night.
“For the second night in a row, firefighters will be working through the night battling blazes in Los Angeles. On behalf of a grateful City, we thank you,” Bass said on X.