Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has removed LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley effective immediately, following weeks of tension over her handling of last month’s deadly wildfires.
“We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch,” Bass said in a Friday statement, per NBC4 LA. “Furthermore, a necessary step to an investigation was the President of the Fire Commission telling Chief Crowley to do an after-action report on the fires. The Chief refused. These require her removal.”
The Palisades Fire, which erupted in early January, ranked as the ninth deadliest and third-most destructive wildfire on record in California.
Crowley and Bass have exchanged blows since the fire began, with Crowley blaming budget cuts enacted by Bass for hamstringing the LAFD’s ability to respond to large-scale emergencies. The LAFD’s budget was cut by $17.5 million just months before the fires broke out.
The 3,000-member United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 stood with Crowley as Bass looked prepared to fire her, saying that she was the only chief who had been “willing to fight” for the needs of the department.
“While we haven’t agreed on everything, you’ve been the only fire chief in decades to repeatedly demand adequate resources,” the union said.
Bass was also heavily critiqued for spending the beginning of the crisis in Ghana representing the Biden administration, with the mayor later admitting that the trip was “absolutely” the wrong choice.
Bass’ former mayoral opponent, Rick Caruso, quickly condemned Crowley’s removal on social media, calling Bass’ decision “very disappointing.”
“Chief Crowley served Los Angeles well and spoke honestly about the severe and profoundly ill-conceived budget cuts the Bass administration made to the LAFD. That courage to speak the truth was brave, and I admire her. Honesty in a high city official should not be a firing offense. The Mayor’s decision to ignore the warnings and leave the city was hers alone. This is a time for city leaders to take responsibility for their actions and their decisions. We need real leadership, not more blame passing.”
Former Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year veteran of the department, will step in as interim fire chief.
Villanueva is expected to approve the after-action report on the fires with the aim of clarifying conflicting accounts of who was warned about the powerful windstorm that fueled the fires. The storm was expected days ahead of January 7, yet the resulting damage still took many residents by surprise.