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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Friday ousted the chief of the city's Fire Department, weeks after blazing wildfires devastated the area.

The move comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the city's response to wildfires that killed at least 28 people, destroyed more than 15,000 structures and impacted an untold number of lives.

The mayor's officereleased a statement saying it was removing Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley and naming Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva her replacement.

Bass' decision comes weeks after the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in early January that devastated communities across the county.

The blazes broke out on Jan. 7, when the Palisades Fire erupted, burning nearly 24,000 acres and destroying over 9,000 structures. The Eaton fire sprouted up hours later near Pasadena, taking with it over 9,000 structures.

Bass announced the move on X, writing: "Acting in the best interests of Los Angeles’ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department, I have removed Kristin Crowley as Fire Chief. 1,000 firefighters were sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch the day the fires broke out. Chief Crowley refused to do an after action report on the fires."

Interim Chief Villanueva was seven months into his retirement when he was appointed to help run the department. He is a 41-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department, the release says.

City leaders under fire

Bass is facing criticism over two issues in particular: a funding cut to the Los Angeles Fire Department in the fire-prone region and the timing of a diplomatic trip to Ghana as dangerous fire conditions loomed.

Budget documents obtained by USA TODAY show that the Los Angeles Fire Department's budget was reduced from $837 million in fiscal year 2024 to $819 million in fiscal year 2025 as a part of broader cuts for the year.

"LAFD’s operating budget did get reduced by $17.6 million - part of that reduc

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Friday ousted the chief of the city's Fire Department, weeks after blazing wildfires devastated the area.

The move comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the city's response to wildfires that killed at least 28 people, destroyed more than 15,000 structures and impacted an untold number of lives.

The mayor's officereleased a statement saying it was removing Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley and naming Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva her replacement.

Bass' decision comes weeks after the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in early January that devastated communities across the county.

The blazes broke out on Jan. 7, when the Palisades Fire erupted, burning nearly 24,000 acres and destroying over 9,000 structures. The Eaton fire sprouted up hours later near Pasadena, taking with it over 9,000 structures.

Bass announced the move on X, writing: "Acting in the best interests of Los Angeles’ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department, I have removed Kristin Crowley as Fire Chief. 1,000 firefighters were sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch the day the fires broke out. Chief Crowley refused to do an after action report on the fires."

Interim Chief Villanueva was seven months into his retirement when he was appointed to help run the department. He is a 41-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department, the release says.

City leaders under fire

Bass is facing criticism over two issues in particular: a funding cut to the Los Angeles Fire Department in the fire-prone region and the timing of a diplomatic trip to Ghana as dangerous fire conditions loomed.

Budget documents obtained by USA TODAY show that the Los Angeles Fire Department's budget was reduced from $837 million in fiscal year 2024 to $819 million in fiscal year 2025 as a part of broader cuts for the year.

"LAFD’s operating budget did get reduced by $17.6 million - part of that reduction included 61 total posit

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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Friday ousted the city's Fire Department chief, weeks after blazing wildfires devastated the area.

The move comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the city's response to wildfires that killed at least 28 people, destroyed more than 15,000 structures, and impacted an untold number of lives.

The mayor's office released a statement naming Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva as Chief Kristin Crowley's replacement.

Bass' decision comes weeks after the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in early January that devastated communities across the county.

The blazes broke out on Jan. 7 when the Palisades Fire erupted, burning nearly 24,000 acres and destroying over 9,000 structures. Hours later, the Eaton fire sprouted up near Pasadena, taking with it over 9,000 structures.

Bass announced the move on X, writing: "Acting in the best interests of Los Angeles’ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department, I have removed Kristin Crowley as Fire Chief. 1,000 firefighters were sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch the day the fires broke out. Chief Crowley refused to do an after action report on the fires."

Interim Chief Villanueva was appointed to help run the department seven months into his retirement. The release says he is a 41-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Why is Karen Bass facing criticism over city's fire response?

Bass is facing criticism over two issues in particular: a funding cut to the Los Angeles Fire Department in the fire-prone region and the timing of a diplomatic trip to Ghana as dangerous fire conditions loomed.

Budget documents obtained by USA TODAY show that the Los Angeles Fire Department's budget was reduced from $837 million in fiscal year 2024 to $819 million in fiscal year 2025 as a part of broader cuts for the year.

"LAFD’s operating budget did get reduced by $17.6 million - part of that reduc