Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has fired Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley over the chief's handling of the Palisades fire. “Acting in the best interests of Los Angeles’ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department,

LOS ANGELES — Mayor Karen Bass removed the city’s fire chief, Kristin Crowley, on Friday, culminating an escalating blame game that has festered since devastating wildfires swept the city last month.

The rank-and-file firefighters have voiced appreciation for Los Angeles Chief Kristin Crowley's honesty regarding the state of the department.

Separately, the LAFD has defended its decision not to pre-deploy any engines and firefighters to the Palisades — as they had done in the past — despite being warned that some of the most dangerous winds in recent years were headed for the region.

(Reuters) -Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass removed Fire Chief Kristin Crowley on Friday for her handling of the wildfires in January that killed more than two dozen people and destroyed more than 13,000 structures,

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Friday she has fired Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley for her actions during the Palisades and Eaton wildfires.

Mayor Bass has appointed former Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year-old LAFD veteran, as interim fire chief.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has removed LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley, according to a statement from the city. Bass was expected to speak about the removal, which comes after weeks of mounting tensions between the mayor and fire chief during and following the deadly Los Angeles wildfires,