LA Fire Chief Criticizes City Leadership Amid Wildfire Crisis

As wildfires ravaged Southern California for the fourth consecutive day, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley publicly criticized city leadership, claiming the Fire Department is understaffed and underfunded. Crowley’s remarks came during a tense interview with Fox 11 on Friday, where she directly contradicted Mayor Karen Bass‘s earlier statements about the department’s preparedness.

Crowley, who became the first woman to lead the Los Angeles Fire Department in 2022, stated that budget cuts have severely hampered the agency’s ability to respond to the ongoing crisis. “We can no longer sustain where we are. We do not have enough firefighters,” Crowley told CNN anchor Jake Tapper. She revealed that a $17-million budget cut had negatively impacted operations, including vehicle maintenance and staffing levels.

The fires, which have devastated areas including Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadena, have forced thousands of residents to evacuate. Celebrities such as Anna Faris and Milo Ventimiglia have reported losing their homes, while others like Sarah Michelle Gellar have criticized the city’s response. Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure in fire hydrants, which hindered firefighting efforts.

Mayor Bass’s office denied rumors that Crowley had been fired, with spokesperson Zach Seidl stating that both Bass and Crowley remain focused on combating the wildfires. However, tensions between the two leaders were evident as Crowley met with Bass for an extended private discussion, causing the mayor to miss a scheduled media briefing.

City Councilmember Traci Park, who represents Pacific Palisades, supported Crowley’s concerns, calling the Fire Department’s underfunding a “chronic, decades-long issue.” Meanwhile, City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo disputed Crowley’s claims, noting that the department’s budget had increased by over 7% this year when accounting for raises and vehicle purchases.

As the crisis continues, Crowley has urged immediate action to address the department’s needs, including doubling the number of firefighters and adding 62 fire stations. “The Fire Department needs to be funded appropriately so that I can look any community members in the eye and say, ‘Your LAFD’s got your back,'” she said.