Former Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley failed to regain her position after being ousted by Mayor Karen Bass following the destructive wildfires that devastated the region.
Crowley’s appeal to the City Council to reverse Bass’s decision was unsuccessful, with the council voting 13-2 to shelve the proposal, indicating support for Bass.
Driving the news: The dismissal of Crowley by Mayor Bass occurred amid differences over the wildfire management, funding, and deployment of firefighters during the crisis.
- Bass criticized Crowley for alleged failure to deploy an additional 1,000 firefighters on the day the fire broke out and for refusing to prepare a critical report on the fires, crucial for investigations into the incident.
- Crowley defended herself during the council hearing, stating that she was the victim of multiple false accusations and arguing that she couldn’t deploy more firefighters due to budget cuts affecting necessary equipment.
- The city’s unionized firefighters supported Crowley, claiming that she was unfairly dismissed for advocating for more staff and funding, while some residents and activists also urged the council to reinstate her.
What we’re watching: Mayor Bass, who had been criticized for being in Africa as part of a presidential delegation when the fires started, faces sensitive political challenges as she tries to show a unified front in addressing the wildfire aftermath and rebuilding efforts.
Flashback: The Palisades Fire, which began on January 7, resulted in the destruction or damage of nearly 8,000 homes and businesses, with at least 12 people killed.
- Another fire in Altadena on the same day killed at least 17 people and destroyed or damaged over 10,000 structures.
Zoom in; Bass claimed that Crowley failed to notify her of the impending danger before she departed, despite it being standard practice since Bass took office in December 2022.
