Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass dismissed Fire Chief Kristin Crowley following the city's most destructive wildfire, citing poor preparation and the absence of essential firefighters on duty. Crowley allegedly refused to produce a necessary after-action report on the fires that resulted in significant destruction and loss of life. Bass faced backlash for being abroad when the fires erupted and admitted to her mistake of leaving during a crucial time, placing blame on Crowley for not communicating the dangerous conditions adequately. Crowley defended her leadership, pointing to budget cuts that hampered the firefighting efforts.
"Bringing new leadership to the Fire Department is what our city needs," Bass said, emphasizing the need for change following the fires.
"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," stated Bass.
Bass acknowledged she made a mistake by leaving the city during the fires and noted she wasn’t aware of the looming danger.
Crowley criticized budget cuts, arguing they hindered the department's ability to respond effectively during the catastrophic fires.
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