Spencer Pratt, a former candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, criticized current Mayor Karen Bass for her response to a warehouse fire in Boyle Heights that began on Wednesday and is still active. Pratt linked Bass's handling of this incident to her previous response to the Palisades Fire in January 2025, claiming she was not present during critical moments. He stated, 'Karen was sipping cocktails in Chicago when the Boyle Heights fire erupted,' echoing similar criticisms from earlier incidents.
The fire, which broke out at a frozen food warehouse, led to local officials issuing a shelter-in-place order that has since been lifted. Mayor Bass declared a local emergency on Saturday, while California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Sunday. Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore indicated that the fire could be extinguished by the end of the week if progress continues.
Residents reported health concerns related to smoke exposure, describing the odor as chemical-like. Pratt expressed concerns about the potential dangers posed by fumes from the warehouse, particularly from solar panels on the roof. He also referenced a previous fire at the same warehouse and criticized Bass for budget cuts to the fire department, which he claims contributed to the current situation. Pratt had previously lost a mayoral election to Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who will face Bass in the upcoming general election on November 3.