Top City Official Removes Chief During Crisis, Citing Failure to Follow Orders
In a recent development, the city’s top official has removed the chief amid a crisis. The official, Bass, pointed out that Chief Crowley did not comply with a directive to submit an after-action report on the recent fires, which was given by the president of the Fire Commission. “The Chief’s refusal to do so necessitated her removal,” stated Bass. Crowley did not provide a response to requests for comment as of Friday.
To fill the interim chief position, Bass appointed Ronnie Villanueva, a former LAFD Chief Deputy with 41 years of experience in the department. Crowley, who has been with the department for 22 years, was appointed as fire chief in 2022, becoming the first woman and LGBTQ individual to hold the position in the department, which consists of approximately 3,750 members.
The decision to oust Crowley comes after she acknowledged in an interview with L.A. TV station KTTV that the city had failed the LAFD. She emphasized the underfunding of the fire department and suggested that proper funding could have better prepared the LAFD for the Palisades Fire.
Bass has faced scrutiny over budget reductions amounting to $17.8 million for the LAFD. Despite this, she denied any impact on firefighting efforts during the recent wildfires. Crowley mentioned having to make tough decisions regarding firefighter duties in non-emergency situations due to budget constraints but noted that the department was collaborating with Bass.
Questions arose when Bass was in Ghana for the presidential inauguration of John Mahama when the fires broke out. However, she defended her trip, stating she was not adequately informed about the situation beforehand. Additionally, her office shifted blame to Crowley for not directly notifying the mayor or her chief of staff about the severity of the fires.
The catastrophic fires, fanned by powerful Santa Ana winds resembling hurricane speeds, resulted in at least 29 fatalities. The Palisades Fire, encompassing over 23,000 acres and destroying numerous structures, was contained on Jan. 31 after burning for more than three weeks. Another significant fire, the Eaton Fire, ravaged areas in Los Angeles County before being fully contained on the same day.
Officials described the fires and intense winds as one of the most severe natural disasters in the history of the region.
Los Angeles.
