Los Angeles Mayor Removes Fire Chief Over Alleged Lack of Preparation for Palisades Fire

Karen Bass said that the Los Angeles Fire Department was not prepared when fires broke out in January 2025.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley talks during a news conference at Harbor–UCLA Medical Center in the West Carson area of Los Angeles on Feb. 15, 2024. Richard Vogel/AP Photo

The mayor of Los Angeles said on Feb. 21 that she removed the city’s fire chief because the chief had not prepared the department to fight fires when they broke out earlier this year.

Karen Bass, the mayor, said she removed Kristin Crowley effective immediately.