Ex-Fire Chief Sues Bass for Fire Scapegoating

Clear Facts

• Former LAFD Chief Kristen Crowley filed a tort claim against Democrat Mayor Karen Bass alleging retaliation over 2025 Palisades Fire response.
• Palisades Fire killed 12 amid LAFD budget cuts while Bass vacationed in Ghana.
• Bass fired Crowley despite initial praise claiming failure to deploy firefighters.

Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristen Crowley accuses Mayor Karen Bass of pinning blame for the deadly Palisades Fire on her to dodge accountability.

The January 2025 blaze drew intense criticism of city leaders after killing 12 people amid a second fire in Altadena.

Crowley alleges Bass ignored warnings of $17.6 million LAFD budget cuts and equipment issues for fiscal year 2024-2025.

“The claim sets out a pattern of dishonesty, scapegoating, and unlawful retaliation that destroyed the career of a 25-year public servant not because of any failure in her duties, but because she told the truth,” her representatives stated.

“The tort claim makes clear that Fire Chief Crowley did her job. She told City leadership and the public that Mayor Bass’ budget cuts and the City’s decades of neglect had left the LAFD underfunded, understaffed, and ill-equipped,” the statement continued.

Bass initially praised Crowley but reversed course claiming she sent 1,000 firefighters home on fire day.

The City Council upheld the firing 13-2; Crowley now demands retraction of false statements and public apology.

“There is nothing new here. Ms. Crowley was removed from her post for her failure to predeploy,” Bass advisor Yusef Robb responded.

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