Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley was dismissed from her position on Friday, following a tense meeting with Mayor Karen Bass.
Sources confirmed the news to DailyMail.com, saying that Crowley had returned from the meeting, hugged her staff goodbye, and openly stated that she was fired.
This drastic step came after Crowley publicly criticized the mayor’s budget cuts to her department, which she had voiced during an interview earlier that day.
Crowley’s Criticism of Budget Cuts and Firefighting Capacity
The firing follows a heated interview that Crowley gave to Fox LA, where she expressed frustration over the city’s failure to properly fund the fire department.
Crowley argued that cuts to the department’s budget were severely hindering its ability to effectively prepare for and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires.
“My message is the fire department needs to be properly funded,” she told Fox LA. When asked if the city had failed, she responded bluntly, “Yes.”
The Fallout from Crowley’s Comments on Firefighting Operations
In an astonishing public critique, Crowley highlighted several systemic issues within the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) that have been exacerbated by the mayor’s budgetary decisions.
She revealed that her department is understaffed, under-resourced, and lacking sufficient equipment, a situation that has led to slower response times, particularly during the devastating wildfires.
Crowley noted that her team handles more than 1,500 calls daily under normal circumstances, with a significant portion of them involving urgent transport of patients.
Fire Chief Blames DWP for Firefighting Resource Shortages
During her interview, Crowley also pointed fingers at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), accusing them of failing to maintain the city’s water resources.
Crowley disclosed that she was unaware that the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been offline for scheduled maintenance during the wildfire season.
This lack of water, compounded by broken hydrants, hampered her department’s ability to fight fires.
“When a firefighter comes up to a hydrant, we expect there’s going to be water,” Crowley said.
Bass’ Budget Cuts and Its Impact on LAFD’s Preparedness
Tensions between Mayor Bass and Crowley had been building well before the recent wildfires.
Crowley had written a memo in December warning Bass about the consequences of recent cuts, which amounted to $17.6 million.
She argued that these cuts severely limited the LAFD’s ability to prepare for major emergencies. Further cuts, reportedly demanded by Bass, were outlined in a memo sent out earlier this week.
The firefighting community has raised concerns about the mayor’s approach to budget reductions at a time when wildfires and other emergencies are becoming increasingly frequent and severe.
Crowley’s Blunt Admission of Citywide Failure
Crowley did not shy away from publicly calling out the failure of both the city leadership and the fire department in a time of crisis.
She firmly stated that the city’s response to the wildfires had been inadequate.
“Yes,” Crowley responded when asked if the city had failed.
She added that despite ongoing requests for increased funding and resources, the city continued to ignore the fire department’s needs.
This admission has only added to the anger among Los Angeles residents, who are now questioning the city’s commitment to public safety.
A Growing Crisis: The Need for More Fire Stations and Resources
Crowley’s statements also shed light on the broader issues affecting the fire department.
She emphasized that the city’s explosive growth over the past decades has not been matched by an expansion of fire stations and resources.
She called for the construction of 62 new fire stations and the doubling of the department’s firefighter numbers to meet the growing demand for emergency services.
Crowley Calls for Immediate Action to Fix the Fire Department’s Issues
At the heart of Crowley’s comments was a passionate plea for immediate changes to address the department’s struggles.
She stressed that the fire department needs to be appropriately funded in order to save lives and protect property.
“What our people need to do their jobs is to make sure that we can save lives and that we can protect property,” she said.
Her words are a stark reminder that public safety must be prioritized and adequately funded.
Bass Silent Amid Growing Public Dismay Over Fire Department Cuts
Since Crowley’s fiery criticism, Mayor Bass has remained silent, and the fallout is already being felt across the city.
The mayor’s failure to properly respond to these serious concerns has raised alarms among residents, who are still reeling from the wildfires’ devastating impact.
Many are now questioning whether the city has done enough to support its fire department and ensure the safety of its citizens in the face of future emergencies.
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