Ousted LA Fire Chief’s Lawsuit Against Mayor Bass Revives Palisades Fire Blame Game
Ousted LA Fire Chief’s Lawsuit Against Mayor Bass Revives Palisades Fire Blame Game
A legal claim filed by former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley against the city and Mayor Karen Bass is set to reignite debate over the city’s handling of the devastating Palisades wildfire and the subsequent ousting of Crowley.
Crowley’s lawsuit, a precursor to a civil suit, alleges that Mayor Bass orchestrated a campaign of misinformation, defamation, and retaliation to protect her political image. The former chief claims Bass scapegoated her to deflect criticism over the mayor’s decision to attend a ceremony in Ghana on January 7, the day the catastrophic fire erupted, despite knowing of severe wind and fire danger.
The 23-page claim asserts that Crowley consistently advocated for proper funding and staffing for the LAFD, accusing Bass of cutting nearly $18 million from the department’s operating budget and eliminating critical positions. Crowley alleges that Bass retaliated after she publicly complained about the budget cuts weakening the department’s readiness.
Mayor Bass removed Crowley on February 21, six weeks after the fire that killed 12 people and destroyed nearly 7,000 homes. Bass stated she demoted Crowley for failing to inform her about dangerous conditions or to activate hundreds of firefighters. However, Crowley’s lawyers dispute this, claiming the LAFD lacked sufficient resources to pre-deploy additional firefighters and that all frontline engines were staffed.
In response to the claim, Mayor Bass’s counsel, David Michaelson, stated they would not comment on an ongoing personnel claim, emphasizing the mayor’s focus on current fire preparations. Crowley’s attorneys, Genie Harrison and Mia Munro, allege defamation, labor code violations, and First Amendment rights infringements, seeking unspecified damages above $25,000.
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