Earlier this week, as hurricane-strength winds blew through bone-dry hillside subdivisions, Los Angeles saw its worst nightmare realized as long-predicted firestorms engulfed wide swaths of the nation's second-largest city.

Los Angeles mayor set off for African nation on Saturday despite reports of possible fire weather the day prior

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing criticism from across the city's political spectrum over the preparations for and handling of the fire outbreak that started Tuesday.