By Katherine Tinsley
6:06pm PST, Mar 7, 2025
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Los Angeles Fire Department Chief
Kristin Crowley has a new role after being fired by Karen Bass.
Bass credited Crowley's response to the historic wildfires for her departure, but the latter secured a job as Assistant Chief of LAFD's Operations Valley Bureau, which looks after San Fernando Valley.
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Crowley appealed Bass's decision, but on Tuesday, March 4, the Los Angeles City Council failed to reinstate her.
The firefighter needed 10 out of the 15 council members to side with her, but only two voted for Crowley to return to her position.
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During the hearing, Crowley applauded her team's efforts.
"Our people do amazing things every single day," Crowley said. "The LAFD, your LAFD, deserves to be properly funded, staffed and resourced so we can meet the growing needs of our community."
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Crowley alluded to Bass retaliating against her.
"The truth is that the fire chief should not be prevented from, or punished for, speaking openly and honestly about the needs and capabilities of the LAFD, or for doing her best to protect our firefighters and our communities," Crowley said.
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Before the meeting, Bass's spokesperson Zach Seidl acknowledged Crowley's disappointment.
Seidl shared that Crowley "has the right to appeal her dismissal."
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The union that represents the Los Angeles Fire Department defended its former chief.
"Despite the manufactured reasons that have been publicly offered for her termination, the reality is Kristin Crowley was fired for telling the truth," the statement read.
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Even though Crowley wasn't able to win over the council, her peers stood in solidarity with her.
"Our rank-and-file firefighters on the ground strongly support Chief Crowley," the statement continued. "They know the truth, we have her back, and we will fight for her right to set the record straight."
