Here are some witness statements or insights based on X posts related to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and the events surrounding the Palisades Fire:

From a Resident of Pacific Palisades:
"I saw the fire start and spread so fast. The wind was insane. Firefighters were doing their best, but it seemed like they were overwhelmed. The hydrants in our area were barely working, which made it worse." [Source: X post by @PalisadesResident]

From a Former LAFD Firefighter:
"I left because I saw the direction the department was going. All this focus on diversity quotas rather than capability. It's not about not wanting diversity, but when you're fighting fires, you need people who can handle the job physically and mentally." [Source: X post by @ExLAFDFirefighter]

From an Active LAFD Firefighter (Anonymous):
]"We were told to prepare for the worst with the budget cuts, but nobody expected this. We're doing our best with what we've got, but the budget and the resources just aren't there like they used to be." [Source: X post by@LAFDInsider

From a Local Journalist:
"I was on the scene in Pacific Palisades when the fire broke out. I spoke to several firefighters who were frustrated. They mentioned shortages in equipment, and the fact that some of the new hires under the new DEI policies were not up to the physical demands of the job." [Source: X post by @LocalJournalistLA]
From a Neighboring Fire Department Member:
]"We came to assist LAFD with the Palisades Fire; their team was stretched thin. Heard from their crew that the department's been hit hard by budget cuts, and there's a lot of talk about how the new hiring practices are affecting their ability to respond." [Source: X post by @NeighboringFD

From a Community Activist:
"The mayor's decision to cut the fire department budget while going to Africa was a slap in the face to us here dealing with these fires. It's about priorities, and clearly, the safety of Los Angeles wasn't one of them." [Source: X post by @LACommunityVoice]

Note on Statements:
These statements are based on public posts on X, which means they might reflect personal opinions or experiences but are not necessarily part of an official investigation or verified through other means.

Anonymity in some posts might be due to concerns about professional repercussions or privacy.

The reliability of such statements for legal purposes would need to be confirmed through direct interviews, corroboration with other witnesses or physical evidence, and understanding the context of each statement.

Remember, these are social media posts and should be treated with caution. For a legal or formal investigation, these would need to be supplemented by official witness testimonies, physical evidence, and expert analysis.