Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley Removed by Mayor Karen Bass Amid Devastating Fires

A Leadership Shake-Up in the Wake of Tragedy

The city of Los Angeles is grappling with the aftermath of the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, which claimed dozens of lives and destroyed hundreds of homes. In the midst of this tragedy, Mayor Karen Bass has made a significant decision: she has removed Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley from her position. The move comes after revelations that nearly 1,000 firefighters were sent home on Crowley’s watch, despite the outbreak of the fires last month. This decision has sparked a mix of outrage, criticism, and calls for accountability, as the city struggles to come to terms with the scale of the disaster.

Bass made the announcement on Friday, citing two key reasons for Crowley’s removal. First, she highlighted that firefighters who could have been on duty when the fires broke out were instead sent home. “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 statement. Second, she pointed to Crowley’s refusal to comply with a request from the President of the Fire Commission to conduct an after-action report on the fires. These actions, Bass argued, made Crowley’s removal necessary.

Ronnie Villanueva Steps in as Interim Chief

While Crowley has been removed from her position as chief, she will remain with the Los Angeles Fire Department in a lower-ranking role. The mayor’s office confirmed that Crowley exercised her civil service rights to stay with the department, though her specific duties will now be assigned by the new interim chief. Stepping into the role of interim chief is Ronnie Villanueva, a retired deputy chief of emergency operations for the LA Fire Department. Villanueva’s appointment is seen as a move to bring stability and experience to the department during this critical time.

The LA Fire Department itself has remained tight-lipped on the matter. In a statement to ABC News, the department said, “We are aware of the Mayor’s announcement and have no further comments or interviews on this matter at this time.” This silence underscores the gravity of the situation and the ongoing internal and external investigations into the handling of the fires.

Mayor Bass Faces Scrutiny Over Her Own Actions

Bass has also come under fire for her decision to leave the city for a diplomatic trip to Ghana just before the fires broke out. The mayor admitted that she was not aware of the severe weather forecast before her departure and that Crowley did not contact her to warn her about the impending danger. Bass emphasized that, in the past, Crowley had always reached out directly during emergencies, but this time, that did not happen. “Every time there was a weather emergency or even a hint of a weather emergency, the chief has called me directly,” Bass said at a press conference. “She has my cellphone. She knows she can call me 24/7, and she briefed me, and then we would talk about what needed to happen next. That did not happen this time.”

Bass has taken responsibility for the city’s response to the fires but has also defended her decision to attend the event in Ghana. “As the mayor of the city, the buck stops with me. I am in charge,” she said. However, her critics argue that her absence during such a critical moment reflects a failure of leadership. Bass also denied allegations that she had cut the fire department’s budget during her time in office, stating that she had actually increased funding in her first two budgets and expected to do so again.

Billionaire Rick Caruso Criticizes the Mayor’s Decision

One of the most vocal critics of Bass’s decision to remove Crowley is billionaire Rick Caruso, a Republican who lost to Bass in the 2022 mayoral race. Caruso, whose own mall in the Palisades survived the fire thanks to his private firefighting resources, called Bass’s decision “very disappointing.” He praised Crowley for speaking out about what he described as “severe and profoundly ill-conceived budget cuts” made by the Bass administration. “The Mayor’s decision to ignore the warnings and leave the city was hers alone,” Caruso wrote on social media. “This is a time for city leaders to take responsibility for their actions and their decisions. We need real leadership, not more blame passing.”

Caruso’s comments highlight the political undertones of the situation. Crowley had been openly critical of Bass in a local TV interview on January 10, accusing the mayor of failing the city. This public feud has only added fuel to the fire, as both sides clash over accountability and leadership.

The Fires’ Devastating Impact and Ongoing Investigations

The Palisades and Eaton fires have left an indelible mark on Los Angeles. The Palisades Fire, which began on January 7, spread to 23,707 acres and remained active for 44 days. The Eaton Fire, which also started on the same day, burned through 14,021 acres and likewise remained active for 44 days. Both fires were fueled by severe drought conditions and strong winds, creating an unprecedented and deadly situation. At least 29 people lost their lives in the fires, and the causes of both blazes are still under investigation.

As the city begins to rebuild and recover, questions remain about how such a disaster could have occurred and whether the fire department’s resources were adequately utilized. The removal of Chief Crowley has sparked debates about accountability, leadership, and the preparedness of the city’s emergency services. For now, the focus is on supporting those affected by the fires and ensuring that measures are put in place to prevent such tragedies in the future.

In the end, the removal of Kristin Crowley serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes of public service and the immense responsibility that comes with leadership. As Los Angeles moves forward, the city will need to grapple with these difficult questions and work toward finding solutions that prioritize the safety and well-being of its residents.