L.A. Mayor Karen Bass fires LAFD chief over handling of wildfires

LOS ANGELES (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass fired Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Chief Kristin Crowley following weeks of tensions about how the deadly L.A. wildfires were handled.

"I just met with Crowley and removed her as fire chief," Mayor Bass shared.

Bass says Crowley had to be replaced even as the fire department, its firefighters and the city recovers from the Palisades Fire.

"Bringing new leadership is what [the department] and the people of Los Angeles deserve," Bass declared.

First, the mayor says Crowley made the wrong decision before the Palisades Fire started to send home the previous day's shift of roughly 1,000 firefighters, something the mayor and the city has known now for more than a month.

As for why Crowley's being removed now, Bass said, "While LA was on fire, after that, we had rains, I was not going to do anything while we were in a state of emergency."

The second reason, the mayor says Crowley refused this week to take part in an after-action review of the fire department's response, something the fire department typically does for every major emergency.

"The president of the fire commission told her to do an after-action report, she refused to do it," Bass explained.

The friction between the mayor and the chief became public days after the Palisades Fire when Crowley complained last year's budget cut back on the number of mechanics, which left broken fire engines and equipment unusable.

More recently, the mayor complained she wasn't personally notified by Crowley about the potential severity of the January 7 wind event.

"What has happened in the 2+ years I've been here, every time there was a weather emergency, or even a hint of a weather emergency, the chief has called me directly. She has my cell phone. She knows she can call me 24/7," Bass shared.

Because of civil service rules, Crowley will remain employed by LAFD, but will be assigned to a new position.

The mayor also appointed recent retired Deputy Chief Ronnie Villanueva as Interim Chief.

"And to all the firefighers, I want you to know: The love I have for the department is the reason I'm coming back," Villanueva remarked.

The mayor's decision may not be final as the L.A. City Council could try to intervene and overturn the decision.