Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass dismissed Fire Chief Kristin Crowley on Friday, following criticism of the city's handling of the January wildfires. Crowley had previously voiced concerns about staffing shortages and budget constraints affecting the LAFD's response time to the devastating blazes that displaced thousands of residents.
In January, Crowley publicly stated that budget cuts had hindered the department's ability to provide timely service. She highlighted memos sent to the city detailing the LAFD's resource needs, emphasizing the ongoing issues of understaffing, under-resourcing, and underfunding. Crowley's warnings came as the wildfires raged across Los Angeles, impacting the department's ability to combat the disaster effectively.
Bass appointed 41-year LAFD veteran Ronnie Villanueva as interim fire chief. In a statement, Bass justified Crowley's dismissal, citing the fact that 1,000 firefighters were off-duty when the fires broke out on January 7th and Crowley's subsequent refusal to compile an after-action report. Bass asserted these actions necessitated Crowley's removal, emphasizing the need for new leadership within the fire department.
During a press conference, Bass denied cutting the LAFD's budget and reiterated her reasons for dismissing Crowley. She stated her intention to conduct a national search for a permanent fire chief, engaging with firefighters and residents to understand their priorities for the position. Bass also addressed criticism of her trip to Ghana during the crisis, explaining that she had not been briefed by Crowley about the fires until the evening of January 7th, despite having received briefings during previous emergencies.
Former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso criticized Crowley's firing, praising her honesty and courage in speaking out about the budget cuts. He viewed her dismissal as a consequence of speaking truth to power and called for city leaders to take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
