Developing: LA Fire Chief Reportedly Says She Is Going to Be Fired After No-Holds-Barred Interview, Mayor's Office Denies

The fire chief of Los Angeles claims she was nearly fired by Mayor Karen Bass amid devastating wildfires that have claimed at least 11 lives and destroyed thousands of buildings.

Fire Chief Kristin Crowley alleges the move was tied to her public criticism of the city's funding cuts to the fire department during an interview with KTTV-TV.

Both Crowley and the mayor’s office confirm she remains in her role, but sources suggest she was prepared for termination following the Friday afternoon interview.

When asked by KTTV’s Gigi Graciette whether the city had failed her, Crowley did not mince words.

“Yes,” she replied, pointing to funding reductions by Bass’ administration.

“We are screaming to be properly funded to make sure that our firefighters can do their jobs so that we can serve the community,” she said. “Since day one, we’ve identified huge gaps in regard to our service delivery and our ability of our firefighters’ boots on the ground to do their jobs since day one.”

“This is no longer sustainable,” Crowley added.

She emphasized the importance of realistic budgets based on data: “So when you talk about sounding the alarm and asking and requesting budgets that are easily justifiable based off of the data, real data shows what the fire department needs to serve this beautiful city and the beautiful community that we swore that we would. That’s what that is about.”

Following the interview, Crowley reportedly believed her job was in jeopardy. According to a source cited by the Daily Mail, Crowley was informed the meeting she was summoned to was meant to fire her.

“She was telling everybody goodbye, because she was told the whole purpose of the meeting was to fire her,” the source said.

However, after the meeting, Crowley informed her team she was “not fired yet.”

The mayor’s office denied the allegations, issuing a statement that reports of Crowley’s firing were “false.”

“The Mayor and Chief met. The priority remains fighting these fires and protecting Angelenos,” the statement read.

Despite the denial, observers note Crowley’s forthright remarks have rattled the city’s leadership. Her comments about inadequate resources and the department’s struggle to address growing service demands have shone a spotlight on systemic issues.

“We know we need 62 new fire stations. We need to double the size of our firefighters,” Crowley stated. “The growth of this city since 1960 has doubled, and we have less fire stations.”

Critics also point to Mayor Bass’ handling of the crisis. When the fires broke out, Bass was in Ghana as part of a delegation trip, despite warnings from the National Weather Service about the potential for severe blazes in drought-stricken Southern California.

Upon her return, Bass faced questions about the city’s preparedness and resource allocation. Reports suggest that some LAFD resources have been diverted toward initiatives prioritizing optics over operational readiness, sparking frustration among residents and firefighters alike.

Crowley’s willingness to call attention to these issues has won her support from those who believe the city’s leadership has failed to adequately manage the crisis. However, if reports about her near-dismissal are true, they suggest Mayor Bass was ready to silence dissent rather than address the fire department’s concerns.

For Angelenos, the wildfires underscore the urgent need for effective leadership. Whether or not Crowley’s criticisms lead to meaningful changes remains to be seen.