2025 California Fire Storm

Los Angeles Fire Chief Terminated by Mayor Following Deadly Wildfires

Feb. 21, 2025

Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told the mayor and city council before the deadly wildfire the department wasn't prepared to handle a major incident in Los Angeles.

Susan Nicol

Find Firehouse.com’s full coverage of the 2025 California Fire Storm, which began Jan. 7 near Los Angeles, here.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley was fired by Mayor Karen Bass Friday morning.

The termination is effecctive immediately, and Retired Deputy hief Ronnie Villanueva will serve as interfirm chief, KTLA reported.

In a statement released to media Friday, Bass said the decision to remove Crowley from the position was made in the “best interests of Los Angeles‘ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department.”

On Thursday, Bass slammed the chief for not notifying her that predicted weather conditons were posing a wildfire threat. Not knowing, the mayor left for a trip to Ghana.

Crowley blamed budget cuts for some of the fire department’s response issues and said that while the extra vehicles may not have stopped the fires they could have helped to save homes.

IAFF Local President Freddy Escobar said last week: “I don’t know exactly why each one is here, but I can tell you what has caused them to be here … The LAFD has not had the funding mechanism to supply enough mechanics and enough money for the parts to repair these engines, the trucks, the ambulances."

About the Author

Susan Nicol | News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.