Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has fired Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, citing her mishandling of last month’s devastating wildfires, which claimed 26 lives and displaced over 150,000 residents.
Crowley, who made history as the department’s first female fire chief in 2022, has been accused of prioritising diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and firefighter recruitment during her tenure.
Critics, including current and retired LAFD chief officers, argued that her focus on “DEI efforts” detracted from critical firefighting operations, contributing to staffing shortages and poor emergency preparedness.
“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,” the mayor said in a statement.
Bass has appointed LAFD veteran Ronnie Villanueva as interim fire chief, emphasizing the need for stronger leadership in wildfire management.
Pot/kettle.
https://youtu.be/l6ds5KKyfDE?feature=shared
Alan Preston/ col. mcgreggor about the fires
https://youtu.be/l6ds5KKyfDE?feature=shared
It is much worst than 26 lives. Thousands seems to have disappeard, reduced to ashes