Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced the removal of Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, citing failures in managing recent wildfires and subsequent operational issues. Crowley, the city's first out lesbian fire chief, has faced backlash for not deploying enough firefighters during emergencies and not conducting an after-action report on the incidents. The mayor's administration previously cut LAFD funding, causing friction between the two leaders. The appointment of Ronnie Villanueva as Interim Fire Chief signifies a shift in leadership aimed at improving public safety amid ongoing wildfire challenges.
"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."
"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."
"Before other major weather emergencies, the mayor - or at minimum, the mayor's chief of staff - has received a direct call from the fire chief, flagging the severity of the situation. This time, that call never came."
"The fire department needs to be properly funded, citing the cuts as the reason for 'delays' in service."
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