THE SOUTHLAND FIRESTORM: HOLDING THE LINE : Mayor Apologizes for Remarks on Fire

During a tour of the eastern San Fernando Valley on Thursday, Mayor Richard Riordan apologized for failing to show sympathy for victims of the Calabasas/Malibu fire who live outside the city of Los Angeles and appreciation for firefighters from throughout the state who waged war against the flames.

“It was legitimate,” Riordan said of the criticism leveled at him for remarks he made at an early morning news conference Wednesday, at which he expressed thanks that Los Angeles had been spared from the fires and praised the city’s Fire Department for its work fighting the conflagration.

“I realized afterward that we had not shown the kind of concern we should have toward others and for their help,” Riordan said.

At the news conference, Riordan complimented city firefighters who helped beat down the flames in the county areas. “As a result of that, also, the fire has not reached the city limits of L.A. at this time,” Riordan said.

Although several hundred city firefighters were deployed outside Los Angeles to fight the blaze that swept from Calabasas into Malibu--destroying more than 200 homes, apparently killing three people and injuring 150 others--the entire firefighting campaign was waged with scores of fire units from throughout the state.

Riordan said neither his aides nor his press handlers called the goof to his attention. “I realized it myself,” Riordan said. Riordan said he tried to correct his error, by praising the firefighters from other jurisdictions and expressing sympathy for all fire victims, in subsequent interviews Wednesday.

The mayor’s remarks Wednesday drew criticism that he appeared unfeeling toward fire victims outside the city limits and failed to show appreciation for the many firefighters from other jurisdictions whose work saved city neighborhoods.