Mayor Karen Bass fires LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley ‘effective immediately’

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass terminated LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley Friday afternoon, blaming her for improperly staffing the Palisades and Eaton fires.

“Acting in the best interests of Los Angeles’ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department, I have removed Kristin Crowley as Fire Chief,” Bass said in a statement. “We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch.”

Along with Crowley’s firing, Bass announced she has appointed former Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year LAFD veteran, as interim fire chief.

“While the Department is in the experienced and expert hands of Chief Villanueva, my office will lead a national search and I will speak directly with firefighters and Angelenos about what they want to see in their next permanent Chief,” Bass said.

Exercising her rights under civil service rules, Crowley will stay with the fire department at a lower rank. Her duties will be assigned by Villanueva.

Bass went on to say that Crowley refused to do an after action report on the fires after the President of the Fire Commission asked her to. These actions, Bass said, required her removal.

Bass discussed the matter at a press conference Friday, where she clarified that the decision was not made during the state of emergency, which the city is no longer in.

She emphasized the importance of a full investigation into the events leading up to Jan. 7 as ordered by the governor.

In the wake of the deadly fires, Bass and Crowley initially appeared supportive of each other, side by side at news conferences. But it didn’t take long for a rift to form.

The then fire chief has publicly criticized the city for underfunding and understaffing the LAFD, leaving it vulnerable.

Crowley sent a report to Bass through the LA Fire Commission on Dec. 17, 2024 stating that the department is facing “unprecedented operational challenges due to the elimination of critical civilian positions and a $7 million reduction” in overtime hours.

“The fire department needs help. We do not have enough firefighters. With that, I have also requested multiple budgets, interim budgets to show how understaffed, under-resourced and underfunded the LAFD is,” said Crowley.

In turn, Bass slammed Crowley for refusing to put together a required “after-action report” as part of the mayor’s investigation into the fire response.

Bass has been facing criticism for being in Africa as part of a presidential delegation on the day the fires started, even though weather reports had warned of dangerous fire conditions in the days before she left.

In televised interviews this week, Bass acknowledged she made a mistake by leaving the city. But she inferred that she wasn’t aware of the looming danger when she jetted around the globe to attend the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama. She faulted Crowley for failing to alert her about the potentially explosive fire conditions.

“Every time there was a weather emergency or even a hint of weather emergency, the chief has called me. That didn’t happen this time,” said Bass.

The L.A. Fire Department said it followed its standard preparation procedures and issued public and media advisories.

Warning posts on X dating back a week before the fires were sent out.

Eyewitness News reached out to Crowley for comment on her dismissal, but haven’t heard back.

Crowley was named fire chief in 2022 by Bass’ predecessor at a time when the department was in turmoil over allegations of rampant harassment, hazing and discrimination. She worked for the city fire department for more than 25 years and held nearly every role, including fire marshal, engineer and battalion chief.

Reactions to Mayor Bass’ firing of Crowley

The United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 opposed the termination of Crowley on X, saying in part, “Chief Crowley is a strong leader who has the respect of our firefighters and wasn’t afraid to tell the truth. She’s being made a scapegoat from a devastating fire without the benefit of a full investigation into what actually happened.”

Freddy Escobar, UFLAC president, told Eyewitness News that they were “outraged she would get fired for telling the truth.”

During an interview with Eyewitness News Friday, Los Angeles councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who represents the 7th district, said she was “incredibly outraged and disappointed” in Mayor Bass’ firing of LAFD’s fire chief Kristin Crowley.

Bass blamed Crowley for improperly staffing the Palisades and Eaton fires and said that Crowley refused to do an “after-action” report on the fires after the President of the Fire Commission asked her to. These actions, Bass said, required her removal.

Rodriguez disagrees with the mayor’s statement.

“One of the things that really troubled me is this idea that she didn’t respond to the after-action report,” said Rodriguez. “That is standard protocol and that frankly is not something that ever happens quickly nor is it something that I ever experienced in all of the incidents that Chief Crowley has been a part of, refused to participate in.”

In a statement earlier afternoon, Rodriguez said that “Chief Crowley remains the most qualified member of the Los Angeles City Fire Department that earned her well deserved appointment as Fire Chief.”

Rodriguez said she plans to use her authority as a Councilmember to “set the record straight and encourage Chief Crowley to appeal the Mayor’s baseless termination to the City Council.”

In order for that to happen, Crowley will first need to request an appeal for the city council to overturn the mayor’s dismissal. She then would need 10 votes from city councilmembers.

Rodriguez said she spoke to Crowley Friday morning and they talked about the work Crowley was doing with testing the hydrants, but they have not spoken since the firing.

“it’s infuriating to me that she would be made the scapegoat in all of this because I’ve known nothing but Chief Crowley to be the consummate professional when it comes to the fire service and I’m just incredibly outraged and disappointed.”

Bass’ opponent in the previous mayoral race and one of her most outspoken critics, billionaire Rick Caruso, quickly criticized Crowley’s removal.

“It is very disappointing that Mayor Bass has decided to fire Chief Kristin Crowley,” Caruso said on social media. “Chief Crowley served Los Angeles well and spoke honestly about the severe and profoundly ill-conceived budget cuts the Bass administration made to the LAFD. That courage to speak the truth was brave, and I admire her. Honesty in a high city official should not be a firing offense. The Mayor’s decision to ignore the warnings and leave the city was hers alone. This is a time for city leaders to take responsibility for their actions and their decisions. We need real leadership, not more blame passing.”

Caruso owns a shopping mall in the Pacific Palisades. The mall survived the deadly wildfire because Caruso employed his own private resources to fight the fires.