A millionaire Los Angeles CEO has sparked outrage over a “tone deaf” post asking for help from “private firefighters” to protect his Pacific Palisades residence while emergency services worked to help residents as the realm went up in flames. Keith Wasserman, co-founder of the investment firm Gelt Venture Partners, turned to X for help when a large fire ravaged the hillside.
He wrote on X: “Does anyone have access to the private firefighters that protect our home in Pacific Palisades? We must act quickly. All the neighbors’ houses are burning. I will pay any amount. Thank you”.
The post, which garnered over a million views before it was deleted, was met with immediate and harsh backlash.
The disconnect brings you to your knees.
Just wow. pic.twitter.com/krubaIuACO
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) January 8, 2025
Commenting on the post, a user wrote: “Incredible nerve. His family has been evacuated and he is trying to hire private firefighters who risked their lives to save the house he was sure he had insured. Incredibly tone-deaf.”
Another user commented: “If you end up tweeting and calling for private firefighters to protect your property, you must probably ask yourself who you have got change into as a human being.”
A third user wrote: “So you are suggesting that potentially life-saving resources (even ‘private’ ones) ought to be diverted to saving your house since you’re wealthy while tens of hundreds of individuals are trying to evacuate?”
A crescent of flames gripped Los Angeles in an enormous pincer visible from space. More than 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate as dry, hurricane-force winds hampered firefighting efforts and spread the flames. At least five people have died for the reason that fires broke out on Tuesday.
According to Reuters, the homes of movie stars and celebrities were consumed by flames that consumed a number of the richest properties on the planet and greater than showbiz properties immediately recognizable all over the world.
“This firestorm is the worst,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference after returning to town, interrupting an official trip to Ghana.
