FormerLAFD Chief Kristin Crowleytook aim at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and her handling of the Palisades fire on Tuesday, alleging labor code violations after she was ousted by the mayor last year in a bombshell new lawsuit.
“She sought to avoid accountability by shifting blame and lying — including falsely claiming that she was not aware of the nationally anticipated weather event, falsely claiming that the LAFD’s budget was not cut, and falsely claiming thatLAFD’s resourceswould have supported an additional 1,000 firefighters to fight the blaze — claims contradicted by public records and Bass’ own prior statements,” the filing states.
Crowley,who was removed by Bass as head of the fire departmentjust weeks after the deadlyPalisades Fire, claims her termination violated protections in the state labor code and the California Constitution.
The former fire chief alleges that after initially praising the fire department’s response, “Bass reversed course” and looked for someone else to take the fall amid backlash over delayed responses to the fire and criticism of the mayor being absent from the city when the blazes broke out — as well as cuts to the fire budget the year before,according to newly filed court papers seen by NBC Los Angeles.
The two publicly clashed over the response to the fire, with Crowley alleging the mayor engaged in a “smear campaign” against her.
This is not the first time Crowley has taken legal action against the city.
She filed a legal claim on Aug. 20, 2025, againstBass and the cityalleging defamation, retaliation and negligence following her February 2025 demotion.
She had initially stated that she was made the scapegoat for the backlash following the department’s slow response, Bass’s absence from the city when the fire broke out, and the overall handling of the blaze.
The California Post has contacted Bass’s office for comment.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
