But as with much of the news swirling around the fires, the real picture is complicated. Facing lower tax revenues and higher operating costs, Ms. Bass did indeed approve a budget for the fire department’s current fiscal year that was $23 million less than the previous year.

Several members of the Chicago Fire Department falsified reports and misled investigators after a high-ranking department member was found slumped over the steering wheel over a vehicle in 2022, according to a new report from the city’s Office of Inspector General.

The Chicago Fire Department was accused in a new report by the city's Office of the Inspector General's office of covering up for a high-ranking supervisor who was found asleep behind the wheel. This happened back on May 29,

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg’s office pushed CFD to fire three people involved in the cover-up and place them on the city’s do-not-hire list, but the department imposed far lighter discipline.