Los Angeles Fire Chief Christin Crole has been removed by Mayor Karen Bas in view of the fire of disastrous Palisads and Eaton, killing dozens and destroyed hundreds of houses.
Bass said on Friday that he removed the Crowley as firefighters were sent home instead of being used when the fire broke out last month.
Bass said in a statement, “We know that 1,000 firefighters who could be on duty in the morning, instead of extinguishing the fire, were sent homes on the main clock’s watch.” “In addition, an essential step for an inquiry was the chairman of the Fire Commission, who was asking the Chief Crowley to take action on the fire. The chief refused. He needs to be removed.”
Cristin Crole, head of the Los Angeles City Fire Department, is seen here in Long Beach, California. December 5, 2024.
Mayung j. Chun / Los Angeles Times Getty Image, through File
A retired LA Fire Head of Emergency Operations Ronnie Villanuva has been appointed as the interim chief.
Bass has faced tremendous pressure and questions about his decision to participate in a program in Ghana, despite the days of warnings about the unprecedented weather incident that took out the fire on 7 January.
Earlier this week, a representative of Bass said that before the emergency of the weather, the mayor’s office flagged off the seriousness of the situation from the fire department, but the call never came before the fire.
Crowley openly criticized the bass in a local TV interview on January 10, saying that Bass had failed in the city.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
