(NewsNation) — Kristin Crowley has been removed as chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, with Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva taking over the role on an interim basis.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cited Crowley’s decision-making during the wildfires that devastated the Los Angeles area as the reason for Crowley’s removal.
“We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch,” Bass said. “Furthermore, a necessary step to an investigation was the president of the Fire Commission telling Chief Crowley to do an after-action report on the fires. The chief refused.”
Villanueva is a 41-year veteran of the LAFD. After seven months of retirement, he is returning as interim chief. He spent 24 of those years in the field on active assignments and also has experience in emergency management.
President Donald Trump has been a harsh critic of Bass, the LAFD and California Gov. Gavin Newsom for how the fires were handled and previously suggested he would withhold emergency aid if the state did not take actions he deemed important.