Bass fires LA Fire Chief Kristen Crowley, names new interim chief

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KESQ) -  Mayor Karen Bass fired Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley today -- citing what the mayor called failures in leadership ahead of the January windstorm that led to the deadly Palisades Fire, as well as what Bass said was Crowley's refusal to prepare an after-action report on the firefight.   

Bass appointed former Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year LAFD veteran, as interim fire chief.  

Later Friday, the mayor's office said Crowley had exercised her civil service right to remain with the agency at a lower rank. The interim chief will be responsible for assigning her duties.

Crowley did not immediately reply to a request by CNS for comment regarding her firing, nor did Capt. Erik Scott, a spokesman for the LAFD. But the Los Angeles Times quoted Scott as saying the department was "aware of the mayor's announcement'' and had ``no further comments or interviews on this matter at this time."  

In an afternoon news conference Friday, Bass said she supports a full investigation of everything that occurred leading up to the devastating Palisades Fire on Jan. 7. She said that earlier this week, the president of the city's Fire Commission instructed Crowley to do an after-action report -- but according to Bass, Crowley refused.  

Bass said she heard of Crowley's refusal and met briefly with her Friday to remove her from her position. The mayor could not elaborate as to why Crowley allegedly refused to conduct the after-action report.

In part, such a report would analyze the department's model of pre- deployment during the January windstorm and critical fire danger. As the Santa Ana wind event began, firefighters were sent out to areas of concern such as Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley and the Palisades.

"We all know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke, but were instead sent home on Chief Crowley's watch,'' Bass said. "These actions required her removal.''

In a written statement, the mayor also said she fired Crowley ``in the best interests'' of L.A.'s public safety and the operations of the L.A. Fire Department.

The move came after recent interviews in which an embattled Bass also blamed Crowley for not informing her of the extreme Santa Ana winds and dangerous fire conditions that resulted in the Palisades Fire -- despite those warnings being widely publicized by the National Weather Service and in media reports for days in advance.  

"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. ``... The heroism of our firefighters -- during the Palisades Fire and every single day -- is without question. Bringing new leadership to the Fire Department is what our city needs.''

Bass has faced a barrage of criticism over the handling of the wildfire, in particular because the mayor went on a diplomatic trip to Ghana days before the fires erupted despite the warnings about anticipated severe wind and fire-danger conditions. In interviews this week, Bass said she would normally receive a call from the fire chief about the approach of severe fire conditions, but did not receive any such notification in January.   

Questions have also been raised about a key water reservoir that was out of service for repairs for months prior to and then during the Palisades Fire, leading to a drop in water pressure in portions of Pacific Palisades, and concerns about inoperable fire hydrants across the city.

The mayor emphasized that further investigations into the water pressure will be examined in a probe ordered by Gov. Gavin Newsom.   

Tensions with Crowley increased upon Bass' return to the city when Crowley made public comments critical of what she described as the city's under-funding of the LAFD. That led to a one-on-one closed-door meeting between the pair, but no punitive actions were taken against Crowley at the time.  

The mayor's decision to oust Crowley was met with quick criticism from City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez and businessman Rick Caruso, who ran for mayor but lost to Bass.

"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 in a statement. "I am outraged by the scapegoating revealed by the mayor's actions. I plan to use my authority as a council member to set the record straight and encourage Chief Crowley to appeal the mayor's baseless termination to the City Council. The public deserves a full account of every single leadership failure that has taken place.''

Caruso, meanwhile, said, "It is very disappointing that Mayor Bass has decided to fire Chief Kristin Crowley. 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.''

Leaders of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 also blasted Crowley's ouster.  

"We are outraged at the termination of Fire Chief Crowley,'' UFLAC President Freddie Escobar said. "In our opinion, Crowley is being made a scapegoat and she's being terminated for telling the truth."   

Escobar refuted Bass' claim that Crowley refused to conduct an after- action report. He contended that Crowley told the Fire Commission that the commission was the ``wrong arena'' for an investigation. An investigation into the handling of the fire was instead being conducted -- with the assistance of LAFD -- by the Fire Safety Research Institute. This independent organization was authorized by Newsom to analyze the totality of the multiple fires that erupted in the L.A. region and what issues contributed to the disaster.   

Escobar challenged comments made by Bass regarding the LAFD's pre- deployment model and her FY 2024-25 budget.    "What she didn't say is -- there weren't enough resources. I worked there at the command post that night. I was here in Los Angeles. ... We had more members willing to participate than we had seats to put those members in because we didn't have enough engines or trucks,'' Escobar said.

Bass and City Council members have defended the spending plan -- insisting that the LAFD received an increase in funding in each of the past two years. But Escobar and Crowley contended the operational budget was reduced as well as overtime hours and civilian positions such as mechanics -- staff needed to repair and fix fire trucks and other vehicles.  

"Why is this chief, Crowley, being singled out for an investigation that is not even complete,'' Escobar added. "Our firefighters stand united and say this was a grave mistake by the mayor to treat our fire chief like this... to throw her under the bus.''

Bass, in response to reporters inquiring about a sense of upheaval in the city and reported tensions between County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Bass' fire recovery czar, Steve Soboroff, denied such tensions exist.   

"I am very happy that the rebuilding, the restoration, and the clearing of fire debris is moving forward way ahead of time,'' Bass said. "We have just experienced the worst natural disaster that our city has ever
experienced."

Villanueva is expected to lead the LAFD while the mayor's office leads a national search and engages with residents to what they'd like in their next fire chief.

The interim chief retired seven months ago, but he is ready to hit the ground running, according to Bass' office.   

Villanueva retired from the Fire Department as chief deputy of emergency operations, and has decades of experience in fire suppression, emergency management, and the management of thousands of operational and support members of the LAFD in various positions at the department.

Before becoming a chief officer, Villanueva spent 24 years in the field at active assignments.

"I am humbled by your confidence in me,'' Villanueva said. "I spent 41 years at the Los Angeles City Fire Department working alongside the finest fire professional in the world. Leading them is a honor of a lifetime."  

The Palisades Fire burned 23,448 acres, destroyed more than 6,800 structures and damaged 1,017 others. At least 12 people died in the fire.

Crowley, who has been with the LAFD for about 25 years, took over as chief on March 25, 2002, making her the agency's first female and LGBTQ chief. She worked her way up through the ranks of the department, serving as a firefighter, paramedic, engineer, fire inspector, captain, battalion chief,
assistant chief, deputy chief and chief deputy before earning the top job.

According to her official biography, she served as commander of Battalion 13 in South Los Angeles and Battalion 6 in San Pedro, and also worked in the agency's Professional Standards Division, Fire Prevention and Public Safety Bureau and Administrative Operations.

She also directed youth fire academies in the Harbor and Valley areas, a program that trains local high school students on the fundamentals of becoming a firefighter.

Crowley also served as an executive board member for the Chief Officers' Association and The Women in Fire Service.   

The LAFD has roughly 3,400 sworn positions and 350 civilian posts.