The LA Fire Chief appeal by Kristin Crowley was denied in a 13-2 vote by the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday, finalizing Mayor Karen Bass’ decision to remove her as Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Chief. The hearing lasted three hours, during which Crowley defended her leadership for around 20 minutes, addressing allegations related to her handling of the Palisades Fire, which burned over 23,000 acres and resulted in 12 fatalities in January.
More than 70 individuals, including current and former firefighters and civilians, attended the appeal. 40 to 50 of them spoke in support of Crowley, each delivering two- to three-minute statements urging the council to reconsider her removal.
Why Mayor Bass Fired Crowley
The Bass administration defended the decision to remove Crowley, citing:
- Failure to pre-deploy 1,000 firefighters on Jan. 7, despite National Weather Service warnings of strong Santa Ana winds and extreme fire risk.
- Lack of direct communication regarding the severity of weather conditions leading up to the fire.
- Refusal to conduct an after-action report, which Bass stated was essential for evaluating LAFD’s response to the disaster.
Following the vote, Bass’ spokesperson Zach Seidl stated:
“This is an issue of public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department, the city is moving forward.”
Crowley’s Defense in the LA Fire Chief Appeal
During her 20-minute address, Crowley refuted the claims that she had mismanaged the response, stating:
- She did not send home 1,000 firefighters, explaining that LAFD lacked sufficient working fire engines to deploy them all.
- 40 fire engines were fully staffed and actively responding to emergency calls when the Palisades Fire ignited.
- She did not refuse to conduct an after-action report, recommending instead an independent review by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), a state-funded agency already investigating the fire and windstorm impact.
“I did not refuse to conduct an after-action report. This is a false accusation,” Crowley stated.
She also highlighted chronic staffing and resource shortages that impacted the department’s ability to respond:
- Over 100 fire trucks and ambulances were inoperable due to maintenance and funding shortages.
- Emergency call volume had increased by 55% since 2010, yet staffing had not kept pace.
- Budget requests for additional resources had been submitted for three years, citing increased response times and aging equipment.
“We are past the point of sustaining our services without compromising public safety,” Crowley warned.
Divided Opinions in the City Council
Despite substantial firefighter and civilian support, the majority of the council upheld Bass’ decision. However, two council members—Monica Rodriguez and Traci Park—voted in favor of reinstating Crowley.
- Rodriguez questioned the timing of the dismissal, noting that no independent review had been completed before the decision was made.
- Park argued that leadership failures should not fall solely on one individual, stating:
“Accountability doesn’t stop with one person or one department.”
Others, including Councilmember Imelda Padilla, defended Bass’ decision, criticizing Crowley’s public comments about budget issues during the fire crisis.
“The chief chose the wrong time and place to raise an issue,” Padilla said.
Firefighters’ Union and Public Support
The United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC) Local 112 stood behind Crowley, asserting that her removal was tied to her outspoken stance on LAFD’s resource shortages rather than operational failures.
Freddy Escobar, UFLAC President, stated:
“She had the courage to speak out to ensure firefighters had what they needed. But her honesty cost her job.”
Many in the department expressed concerns that larger systemic issues remain unresolved, despite the change in leadership.
What’s Next After the LA Fire Chief Appeal?
With the LA Fire Chief appeal denied, Interim Chief Ronnie Villanueva will continue leading LAFD, while the city launches a national search for a permanent fire chief.
However, the funding and staffing concerns Crowley raised remain unresolved, raising questions about the department’s future preparedness ahead of wildfire season.
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BY YOONJAE JUNG [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]
