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3mo ago

Los Angeles Mayor Fires Fire Chief After Deadly Wildfire Mismanagement

Mayor Karen Bass removes Kristin Crowley citing failures in wildfire response and tensions over leadership accountability.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks during a fire emergency briefing at Station 69 in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 24, 2025.
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Los Angeles city fire chief Kristen Crowley has been sacked by the city's mayor, Karen Bass, over apparent leadership failures during deadly blazes that swept through the city

Overview

  • Mayor Karen Bass dismissed Fire Chief Kristin Crowley following the city's deadliest wildfire, which claimed at least 29 lives and destroyed over 16,000 structures.
  • Bass criticized Crowley for not deploying 1,000 additional firefighters and failing to prepare a report on the disaster's response and preparedness.
  • The mayor faced backlash for being in Ghana during the wildfire despite warnings of critical fire conditions before her departure.
  • Crowley, who had publicly criticized alleged budget cuts under Bass, will remain in the department at a lower rank under civil service rules.
  • Bass's handling of the wildfire crisis, including transparency concerns and leadership disputes, has raised questions about her administration's effectiveness as she eyes re-election in 2026.