Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Fires Fire Chief Kristin Crowley Amid Fallout from Devastating Wildfires

Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles made a dramatic move last Friday when she fired Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, a decision that has raised eyebrows amidst the city’s ongoing wildfire crisis.

Bass entered Crowley’s office with two lawyers and bluntly told her, “Our relationship is not working out.” According to a source who spoke with DailyMail.com, the firing was swift and emotionless, lasting only two minutes.

Crowley, though not surprised, appeared disappointed and resigned to the situation, acknowledging there was little more she could have done.

Bass Faces Backlash Over Wildfire Response as Chief Crowley is Dismissed

This controversial decision comes after a deadly wildfire swept through Los Angeles last month, claiming the lives of at least 28 people and destroying nearly 19,000 buildings.

Some of the hardest-hit areas included Pacific Palisades and Altadena, where whole neighborhoods were decimated.

Bass publicly blamed Crowley for sending 1,000 firefighters home just before the fire broke out on January 7.

She also pointed to Crowley’s refusal to submit an after-action report on the fires, which Bass cited as grounds for her dismissal.

In a statement, Bass said, “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.”

Bass added that Crowley’s failure to cooperate with the investigation was unacceptable and that the city needed new leadership in the fire department.

Veteran Firefighters React to Chief Crowley’s Sudden Firing

The news of Crowley’s firing quickly spread among Los Angeles firefighters, with mixed reactions. One veteran firefighter told DailyMail.com that the dismissal was a relief, believing that it signaled potential change in the fire department.

However, the source also criticized Bass for not taking enough action earlier to address the department’s systemic issues.

According to this firefighter, Crowley had been seen as a figurehead, often following the mayor’s orders and making decisions that eroded morale among the department’s ranks.

The source pointed to her support of firing firefighters who refused the COVID-19 vaccine as a particularly contentious decision that damaged her credibility.

The veteran further explained that the department was already stretched thin before the fires, with shortages in fire stations and paramedics.

The lack of preparation was seen as a key factor in the failure to manage the catastrophic fires.

“They neglected us for too long, and now everything has fallen apart,” the firefighter stated.

Mayor Bass’ Decision to Fire Crowley Sparks More Controversy

The fallout from this decision has been far-reaching, with many questioning Bass’s handling of the wildfire crisis.

The mayor recently claimed she had not been fully informed about the fire risks before leaving for a trip to Ghana, just days before the fires broke out.

Critics have been quick to point out that fire conditions and high winds were widely forecasted, leading some to accuse Bass of attempting to distance herself from the fallout.

One source close to the situation remarked, “Bass is struggling to keep relevance after she went to the press and said she didn’t know what was coming.

The news was already talking about firestorm conditions days before.”

They accused Bass of being dishonest and not taking responsibility for the city’s lack of preparedness.

The Tensions Between Mayor Bass and Fire Chief Crowley Before the Firing

The relationship between Mayor Bass and Chief Crowley had been tense for some time before the disastrous fires.

Bass had pushed through a series of budget cuts that slashed $17.6 million from the fire department, prompting Crowley to warn in December that such cuts severely hampered the department’s ability to handle large-scale emergencies.

The situation worsened in January when a memo revealed Bass had demanded additional cuts amounting to $49 million, further straining the department’s resources.

Crowley’s criticism of Bass also seemed to have played a role in the mayor’s decision to dismiss her.

During a January interview with Fox LA, Crowley revealed that she had not been informed that the Santa Ynez Reservoir, a key water source for firefighters, was offline for maintenance just days before the fire broke out.

This revelation was seen as an attempt to shift blame away from the fire department, but it only fueled tensions between her and Bass.

The Impact of the Firing on Los Angeles Fire Department Leadership

After Crowley’s firing, Bass appointed Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department, as interim fire chief.

Under the city’s charter, Crowley has 10 days to appeal the decision to the Los Angeles City Council.

While some in the department see the change in leadership as a much-needed reset, others question whether Bass’s move is enough to address the underlying issues that contributed to the city’s wildfire crisis.

As the city continues to recover from the destruction, many wonder if this leadership shakeup will be enough to prevent future disasters or if the real issues lie deeper within the city’s management and preparation.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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