Former Los Angeles fire chief appeals her dismissal

Former Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley is appealing her dismissal from Mayor Karen Bass (D) as the city grapples with tension following the deadly wildfires earlier this year.

Crowley announced her decision to appeal her dismissal in a letter to City Council members on Thursday, KTLA 5 reported.

She said she was choosing to proceed with the appeal provided to her and looked forward to hearing from councilmembers about next steps.

Bass removed Crowley last week as tensions erupted about how the department handled the wildfires and response efforts.

Bass argued the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) needed “new leadership” and she was acting in the best interest of the city’s public safety.

“We know that 1,000 firefights that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch,” Bass said. “Furthermore, a necessary step to an investigation was the President of the Fire Commission telling Chief Crowley to do an after-action report on the fires. The Chief refused. These require her removal.”

Crowley argued at the time of the fires that the city failed her department and she was unable to use water resources to aid the situation.

Bass’s decision to oust Crowley has drawn criticism from the public, who faced tough questions over the number of available fire engines on the day of the wildfire.

Crowley, who was appointed as LAFD’s chief in 2022, noted after her dismissal that it was an honor to represent and lead the fire department and the Los Angeles community, where she has worked for more than 25 years.

In a statement to The Hill, Bass's spokesperson Zach Seidl said "Former Chief Crowley has the right to appeal her dismissal."

The Hill has reached out to Crowley for more information.

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