L.A. mayoral candidate's backyard barbecue ban proposal blocked

A Los Angeles mayoral candidate drew criticism this week for proposing a ban on backyard barbecues on days with high wildfire risk.

Nithya Raman, a Democratic member of the Los Angeles City Council, is running against Republican Spencer Pratt for mayor. The Democratic Socialists of America supported Raman's earlier council campaigns but did not endorse her mayoral bid.

Raman's public-safety motion called for notices to residents in Red Flag Warning areas to stop activities that raise fire risk, including outdoor barbecues and fire pits. The proposal would have also covered restaurants that cook with open flames.

Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez introduced an amendment to block the measure. She said the proposal unfairly targeted neighborhood gatherings and long-standing traditions.

"The last thing Angelenos need is a ban on hosting a carne asada in their own backyards," Rodriguez said.

Red Flag days are declared when wind speeds reach 25 mph or more and humidity drops to 15 percent or less, conditions that raise the chance of fast-moving brush fires.

Pratt used the proposal to boost his campaign. He posted a video of himself grilling meat with the caption "Come and take it" and the overlay text "Happy Smoke 4th."

Pratt lost his home more than a year ago in the Pacific Palisades fires. The Pratt family remained displaced as of February.

Social and political commentator Debra Lea said on Fox News' "The Will Cain Show" that officials were "trying to cancel summer in California." She added that the cause of recent devastating wildfires was "poor leadership and bad decisions," not backyard barbecuing.

Lightning strikes, faulty power lines and transformers, and poorly managed forests have been linked to the most destructive California fires in recent years, according to National Review.

The Trump administration has blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom for the state's wildfire damage. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social in January 2025 that Newsom refused to sign a water restoration declaration that would have allowed millions of gallons of water from rain and snow melt to flow into fire-prone areas.

In January 2026, Trump signed an executive order to speed up reconstruction in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon areas one year after wildfires destroyed nearly 40,000 acres of homes and businesses.

Industry reports estimate that about 70 percent of U.S. households own backyard grills or smokers.