Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has removed Fire Chief Kristin Crowley from her position following widespread criticism over the department’s mishandling of January’s catastrophic wildfires. The fires, including the Palisades Fire, destroyed over 5,300 structures and tragically claimed nearly 30 lives—one of the worst disasters in the city’s history.
Bass cited serious leadership failures under Crowley, including the decision to send home nearly 1,000 firefighters on the day the fires erupted, leaving emergency response critically undermanned. Additionally, Crowley refused to conduct a post-incident review as requested by the Fire Commission, further fueling concerns over her ability to manage crisis situations.
Crowley has attempted to deflect blame onto budget constraints, pointing to $17.5 million in cuts as a key factor in the department’s struggles. However, critics argue that mismanagement and poor decision-making—not just funding—led to the disastrous response. The firefighters’ union defended Crowley, acknowledging her efforts to secure resources, but the overwhelming failures in fire preparedness and response ultimately sealed her fate.
In her place, Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year veteran of the department, has been appointed as interim fire chief. His leadership is expected to focus on restoring public trust in the department and improving preparedness for future emergencies.
This move highlights growing frustration over leadership failures in Democrat-run cities, where incompetence and political decisions have often led to public safety crises. With California facing increasingly severe wildfires, strong, competent leadership in emergency response is more critical than ever.