Abdelrahman
Former LA Fire Chief Appeals Dismissal After Catastrophic Wildfire Response
Kristin Crowley, the former Fire Chief of Los Angeles, has taken the unexpected step of appealing Mayor Karen Bass’ recent decision to terminate her. This dismissal was related to Crowley’s management during the devastating wildfire that ravaged much of Pacific Palisades.
The appeal process requires support from at least ten of the fifteen City Council members, and while its success seems unlikely, it is expected to add to the ongoing political challenges faced by Mayor Bass, who has struggled to stabilize her leadership following the fire that started on January 7.
This filing occurs just days after Mayor Bass dismissed Crowley, accusing the former chief of failing to pre-deploy firefighting resources adequately in light of severe wind forecasts. Additionally, Crowley allegedly did not participate in an after-action report regarding the fire’s aftermath.
In her email to the City Council outlining the appeal, Crowley refrained from providing specific arguments but referenced the City Charter section that permits her to seek reinstatement. Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Mayor Bass, confirmed that Crowley has the right to appeal her dismissal.
City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, a close ally of the mayor, initially sought to expedite the appeal process to minimize the political fallout for Bass. Shortly after receiving Crowley’s notification, he organized a special council meeting for the following day at 5 p.m. in Van Nuys, which only allowed the public a short notice and coincided inconveniently with the weekend.
Typically, council meetings are conducted at 10 a.m. three times a week at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles. The swift scheduling was met with backlash from United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112, whose members have been staunch supporters of Crowley. The organization criticized the council for attempting to "bury this issue when no one is paying attention."
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who advocates for Crowley’s reinstatement, also raised concerns about the timing of the meeting, stating it would coincide with her excused absence, previously sanctioned by Harris-Dawson. She expressed, "He wants to shut us down, shutting down public participation and transparency."
Following this backlash, Harris-Dawson announced that the appeal vote has been rescheduled for Tuesday, stating that it is crucial to allow Council members and interested parties adequate time to prepare for the meeting.
Despite the rescheduling, Crowley faces significant hurdles in garnering the necessary votes to regain her position. Four council members, including Harris-Dawson, publicly supported Mayor Bass during her announcement to remove Crowley last week. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield also articulated his belief in the mayor’s authority to hire and remove personnel as she sees fit, emphasizing the need for the mayor to have full confidence in her leadership team.
Additionally, Blumenfield expressed concern over Crowley’s media appearances shortly after the wildfire, where she spoke of her department’s insufficient funding while the crisis was still unfolding.
On the other hand, Councilmember Traci Park, a vocal advocate for Crowley who represents the Pacific Palisades area affected by the fire, remarked that she could not predict her vote on the appeal without reviewing all the evidence presented.
Political science expert Fernando Guerra noted that council members face competing pressures. The powerful firefighters union backing Crowley has significant influence, yet opposing the mayor could have political repercussions. Guerra suggested that the public visibility of the ongoing dispute could also tarnish Bass’s reputation, though he indicated that Crowley is likely to lose the appeal.
Under the City Charter, the mayor has broad authority to remove department heads like the fire chief without needing council approval. However, the Charter also permits Crowley to contest her dismissal, requiring a two-thirds majority for reinstatement within ten scheduled meeting days.
Prior to Crowley’s firing, Bass and her team had reported that the chief had not alerted them to the serious wind conditions before the mayor left for a trip to Ghana on January 4. The mayor criticized Crowley’s deployment decisions and indicated that she sent firefighters home who could have remained for additional shifts.
Bass also claimed that Crowley was unwilling to participate in the after-action report, which had been requested by the Fire Commission President, a Bass appointee.
A Times investigation uncovered that LAFD officials did not order nearly 1,000 firefighters to stay on duty for a second shift as wind conditions worsened. Furthermore, fire officials delayed activating additional resources until the blaze had already escalated. In comparison, a similar wind forecast in 2011 prompted a more proactive response from the department, according to insights from former fire chiefs.
Though Crowley has defended her decisions regarding personnel deployment, she has yet to address the accusation regarding her refusal to participate in the after-action report. In a previous statement, she stood by her actions, asserting they were aimed at ensuring her firefighters could effectively serve the community.
The firefighters’ union has been vocally critical of Bass’s decision to dismiss Crowley. Union President Freddy Escobar advocated for awaiting the conclusions of an ongoing state review, praising Crowley for highlighting the Fire Department’s budgetary needs and the necessity for more resources. "She’s being terminated for telling the truth," Escobar remarked.
