Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass became evasive as reporters grilled her over the city’s preparedness for devastating wildfires that erupted while she was thousands of miles away on a trip to Ghana — and after the city slashed LA’s firefighting budget by tens of millions.

As crews continue to put out multiple fires across Los Angeles County, residents have expressed worry about the city’s insufficient response. Criticism includes not being warned about the likelihood of the fires even happening as well as a shortage of both firefighters and water.