Los Angeles Mayor Fires Fire Chief Over Handling of January Wildfires

Kristin Crowley was dismissed following criticism of her management of the city's most destructive fires, which claimed 29 lives and caused billions in damages.

• The January wildfires in Los Angeles burned over 150 square kilometers, destroyed more than 10,000 homes, and caused economic losses estimated at $250-275 billion.
• Mayor Karen Bass cited poor decision-making by Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, including sending 1,000 firefighters home on the morning the fires began, as a key reason for her dismissal.
• Crowley had publicly criticized the city for underfunding and under-equipping the fire department, which she claimed hindered their ability to combat the fires effectively.
• The fires, fueled by drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, have been linked to climate change, which researchers say has intensified wildfire risks in the region.
• The decision to remove Crowley has sparked controversy, with some accusing the mayor of deflecting criticism of her own absence during the early days of the disaster.

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