Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has been officially relieved of her position with immediate effect, according to a Friday morning announcement by Mayor Karen Bass.
Ronnie Villanueva, a former Chief Deputy, has been named acting fire chief by Bass. Villanueva retired from the LAFD in September 2024 after 41 years of service.
“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 stated. “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.”
During a press conference on Friday afternoon, Bass added that Crowley’s failure to perform an after-action report after the fires was one of the reasons she was fired. Bass doesn’t know why Crowley said no.
Bass informed reporters that an hour or so prior to the press appearance, she had a little chat with Crowley.
Her choice follows rumors of conflict between the fire chief and the mayor after the Palisades Fire started on January 7. Days after the rumors of the chief’s dismissal broke out, the two put up a united front.
With the fires and the ensuing rainstorms, Bass made it apparent that she would not decide to remove Crowley while the city was in an emergency.
Crowley informed the Board of Fire Commissioners in a memo approximately one month prior to the Palisades Fire that budget cuts “have adversely affected the Department’s ability to maintain core operations.” While the fires were raging, there was disagreement over the department’s capacity to combat the fires and budget constraints.
“Let me just be clear about the budget, the fire department was not cut,” Bass stated on Friday. “I have done two budgets in my time here, in both budgets, the budgets were increased and I anticipate the budget will be increased this time as well.”
Bass gave the first responders high marks for their valor and bravery in battling the fires. “Firefighters and the people of LA deserve new leadership in the department,” she stated.
“While the Department is in the experienced and expert hands of Chief Villanueva, my office will lead a national search and I will speak directly with firefighters and Angelenos about what they want to see in their next permanent Chief,” Bass stated.
Rick Caruso, a billionaire from Los Angeles who challenged Bass for mayor in 2022, called Bass’ dismissal of Crowley “disappointing.”
“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,” Caruso stated. “That courage to speak the truth was brave, and I admire her.”
Crowley used her civil service rights to remain with the LAFD at a lesser position, according to a Friday afternoon announcement from the mayor’s office. According to the mayor’s office, Crowley will be assigned her responsibilities by Interim Chief Villanueva.
Crowley was the first LGBTQ and female head of the department. In 2022, she was sworn in as chief.
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Who is Ronnie Villanueva, the acting chief?
Villanueva retired as Chief Deputy of Emergency Operations seven months ago after 41 years of service with the LAFD.
“I am humbled by your confidence in me…I pledge to the mayor, our firefighters and the people of Los Angeles is that the Los Angeles City Fire Department will be prepared,” Villanueva stated after being presented as interim chief. “The Los Angeles City Fire Department will respond and the Los Angeles City Fire Department will keep you safe.”
According to a statement, Bass has decades of experience managing emergencies and putting out fires. Prior to his appointment as chief officer, Villanueva worked in the sector for 24 years.
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The United Firefighters of Los Angeles respond
Mayor Karen Bass was criticized by the president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City for her decision to fire Kristin Crowley as the head of the Los Angeles Fire Department, calling her a “scapegoat.”
According to 35-year LAFD veteran President Freddy Escobar, firefighters are unanimous in their recognition of the mayor’s “grave mistake” in removing her.
At a news conference on Friday, he stated that the department has historically been underpaid and under-resourced, and that although crew was there and ready on January 7 when the Palisades Fire started, there simply weren’t enough fire engines for them. “We had more members willing to participate than we had seats to put those members in,” he explained.
“On behalf of the firefighters I represent, I am here to say we are outraged at the termination of fire Chief Crowley, period. In our opinion, Chief Crowley is being made a scapegoat, and she is being terminated for telling the truth.”
