In a major shakeup for the Los Angeles Fire Department, Mayor Karen Bass announced on Friday the removal of Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, citing concerns over staffing shortages and a refusal to conduct a critical after-action report following recent wildfires.
“Acting in the best interests of Los Angeles’ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department, I have removed Kristin Crowley as Fire Chief,” Bass said in a press conference Friday afternoon. “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.”
The decision comes in light of the recent Palisades fires, which burned over 23,000 acres of land and damaged thousands of homes, according to NBC News.
When the fire commission president requested an after-action report — a standard practice to assess response efforts — Crowley refused, according to Mayor Bass.
“These require her removal,” Bass said. “The heroism of our firefighters — during the Palisades fire and every single day — is without question. Bringing new leadership to the Fire Department is what our city needs.”
Mayor Bass followed up and also emphasized that the decision was not financially driven.
“The fire department was not cut, in both budgets, the budget was increased and I have anticipated that it will be increased this time as well.”
Ronnie Villanueva, a veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department, steps into the role of Interim Fire Chief, expressing gratitude and determination in his new position.
“I have spent 41 years at the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Leading them is the honor of a lifetime,” Villanueva said. “I just plan on moving forward, I want to move the department forward and take care of our firefighters.”
Bass echoed this sentiment saying,“Los Angeles is moving forward and we will keep moving forward.”
On January 10, Crowley warned Los Angeles communities that without proper funding, LAFD’s ability to provide service would continue to suffer. “Any budget cut is going to impact our ability to provide service, that’s at this point a ground truth.” No public statement has been released by Kristin Crowley following her removal Friday morning.
Crowley, who became the first female fire chief in LAFD history in 2022, was dismissed after the Palisades fire exposed what the mayor describes as “a failure of leadership.”
Mayor Bass reassured Angelenos that the city is committed to strengthening emergency services which motivated the decision this morning.
“What has happened in the 2-plus years I have been here, every time there is a weather emergency, the chief has called me directly… that did not happen this time,” Bass said. “Los Angeles needs to move forward, this is a new day. I am excited to welcome our new chief who is a 41-year fire department veteran. It is our plan to continue moving forward.”