Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass deleted her text messages from the first days of the deadly wildfires that destroyed multiple communities in January, according to a report.

Bass was on a trip to Africa for the swearing-in of Ghana’s president when the Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7. The mayor did not get back into the city until Jan. 8.

While Bass and her office have said that she was in constant communication with officials during that 24-hour period of travel, her text messages from that time no longer exist, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“Her phone is set not to save text messages,” city lawyer David Michaelson told the newspaper, adding that Bass’ phone has auto-deleted text messages for at least two years.

Bass has faced backlash over her trip and botched response in the early days of the wildfires.

Firefighters watch a helicopter drop water on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Last month, Bass conceded her Africa trip was “absolutely” a mistake and that she was working to regain the public’s trust.

“Absolutely it is, and I think that I have to demonstrate that every day by showing what we’re doing, what is working, what are the challenges,” Bass told NBC Los Angeles when asked if she’s trying to “regain confidence.”

Fox News Digital’s Cameron Arcand contributed to this report.