L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Fires Fire Chief Over Wildfire Response Failures

Kristin Crowley was removed following criticism of her handling of the catastrophic Palisades fire and alleged refusal to cooperate with investigations.

• The Palisades wildfire, one of the most destructive in California history, killed 12 people, destroyed nearly 7,000 structures, and caused hundreds of billions in damages.
• Mayor Karen Bass cited Fire Chief Kristin Crowley's decision to send 1,000 firefighters off duty and her refusal to conduct an after-action report as reasons for her removal.
• Crowley had previously warned that budget cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department had left it under-resourced and understaffed, affecting its ability to respond to emergencies effectively.
• Bass faced criticism for being out of the country during the wildfire, though she stated she was unaware of the fire risk before leaving and returned as quickly as possible.
• Ronnie Villanueva, a retired LAFD veteran, has been appointed as interim fire chief as the city launches a search for a permanent replacement.

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