By Charles Switzer
2:50pm PST, Feb 21, 2025
Bass Fires Fire Chief Amid Wildfire Response Controversy
Los Angeles Mayor
Karen Bass has officially removed Fire Chief
Kristin Crowley from her position, citing failures in leadership during January's devastating
wildfires. The decision comes after weeks of public blame-shifting between the two officials, with Bass accusing Crowley of mismanaging fire department resources at a critical time.
In a statement, Bass highlighted that 1,000 firefighters who could have been on duty during the fires were instead sent home under Crowley's watch. The mayor also criticized Crowley's refusal to conduct an after-action report on the fires, calling it a necessary step in evaluating what went wrong.
Here's what led to Crowley's dismissal.
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Escalating Tensions Between Bass and Crowley
The rift between Bass and Crowley has been growing since the fires ignited in early January. While Bass was in Africa when the wildfires spread, Crowley was quick to place the blame on the mayor's administration, arguing that firefighters were underfunded and lacked the resources needed to contain the destruction,
The New York Post reported.
Crowley's public comments, in which she accused city leaders of neglecting emergency preparedness, likely contributed to her ousting.
"We are screaming to be properly funded to make sure that our firefighters can do their jobs," she said, amplifying tensions with the mayor's office.
Criticism From All Sides Over Wildfire Mismanagement
The
Palisades and Eaton fires, which destroyed tens of thousands of homes and became the most expensive wildfires in California history, have fueled widespread criticism of state and local leadership.
Mayor Bass, Chief Crowley and Governor
Gavin Newsom have all faced scrutiny over their handling of the crisis, with residents and political opponents blaming failures in prevention and response efforts.
One of the loudest critics has been former Los Angeles water and power commissioner
Rick Caruso, who slammed Bass for defending the fire department despite hydrants in several neighborhoods running dry while homes burned.
Defending Crowley's Leadership
Despite her firing, Crowley has received significant support from some city leaders and emergency response officials. Caruso, in particular, strongly condemned the mayor's decision, arguing that Crowley was being scapegoated for deeper systemic issues.
"It is very disappointing that Mayor Bass has decided to fire Chief Kristin Crowley," the billionaire executive said, pointing to what he called "severe and profoundly ill-conceived budget cuts" to the
Los Angeles Fire Department under Bass' administration.
As the city continues to grapple with the aftermath of the wildfires, the debate over who is truly responsible for the failures in emergency response seems to be far from over.
