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A multi-tiered blame game unfolded in Los Angeles that included mixed reports on whether one official had been fired after she pulled a “brilliant move.”

“It’s unbelievable, for her to go on the offensive like that.”

In the days since the wildfires began in California Tuesday, an initial focus on the devastating tragedy had shifted toward accountability as many found fault with prolonged Democratic leadership. This included Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley whose own job status had been called into question as she called out the mayor’s office as the party that “failed” Angelinos.

Late Friday, circulating reports that Crowley had been fired, following a number of public comments on decisions that had led up to a less-than-capable response to the wildfires, were smacked down by the office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D).

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins reported the mayor’s office had stated “This is false,” amid claims the fire chief had been terminated during their meeting.

Similarly, ABC 7’s Josh Haskell had posted to X after a Daily Mail report on the meeting that, according to the mayor’s office, “The Mayor and Chief met. The priority remains fighting these fires and protecting Angelenos.”

According to the Mail, a source close to Crowley’s office had relayed, “She was going into the meeting, telling everybody goodbye, because she was told the whole purpose of the meeting was to fire her.”

“When she was summoned into the meeting, it was with the direct purpose to fire her,” added the source. “Whatever happened in that meeting, minds got changed. Either Bass realized it would be suicide to fire her, and came to her senses, or Crowley talked her out of it.”

“She came back in the office briefly, told her staff ‘I’m not fired yet’ and went into a meeting with all her chiefs. She’s still in that meeting with the fire chiefs right now,” the individual had added at the time.

Throughout the day, Crowley held a number of public interviews where she criticized the more than $17 million budget cuts by the city that had left the fire department lacking in manpower and equipment on top of the issues that resulted in dry hydrants.

“The $17 million budget cut and the elimination of our civilian positions, like our mechanics, did, and has, and will continue to severely impact our ability to repair our apparatus,” she told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “I want to also clarify that I’m not a politician. I’m a public servant.”

“It’s my job as the fire chief for the Los Angeles City Fire Department to make sure that our firefighters have exactly what they need to do their jobs,” added the chief who’d told Fox 11 reporter Gigi Graciette, “It’s my job to stand up as a chief and exactly say, justifiably, what the fire department needs to operate to meet the demands of the community.”

When pressed if LA leadership “failed” her, Crowley responded, “Yes.”

In particular, she cited issues with the Santa Ynez Reservoir of which California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) had called for an independent investigation over water pressure failures as he also attempted to avoid being at fault for the disaster.

“So my stance on this is when a firefighter comes up to a hydrant, we expect there’s going to be water. We don’t control the water supply. Our firefighters are there to protect lives and property and to make sure that we’re properly trained and equipped. That’s my position on this. So if there’s not water, I don’t know how the water gets to the hydrants. Please defer to DWP or whomever controls that part,” Crowley said to Graciette. “But I can tell you the resiliency of our firefighters. If there’s no water, they’re going to find water. They’re going to figure out a way to do the best they can with what they’ve got in a very dynamic situation.”

A statement from LAFD to the Mail clarified the meeting with Bass, “On Friday, January 10th, Fire Chief Kristin Crowley of the Los Angeles City Fire Department met with Mayor Karen Bass. Their foremost priorities continue to be fighting the current wildfires and safeguarding Angelenos.”

“It is important to note that the Fire Chief was not dismissed and is in full command of the LAFD,” it continued while a retired senior LAFD official reacted to Crowley’s comments on Bass.

“In my entire career, a fire chief had never thrown a mayor under the bus. It’s unbelievable, for her to go on the offensive like that,” he said. “It was a brilliant move on her part. One of them’s going to get taken out. Either they’re going to go after the Mayor or the Fire Chief. Saying ‘She defunded me, I didn’t have the money’ is a brilliant move.”

Kevin Haggerty
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