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 Karen Bass awkwardly remained silent when she was questioned by a reporter at Los Angeles International Airport about the devastating fires.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass remained silent when a reporter asked about her absence during the start of the LA wildfires and about the Fire Department’s budget cut. On Wednesday, Mayor Bass returned to the country to deal with the city’s response to the devastating wildfires.