Ex-LA Fire Chief Sues City Over Firing After Palisades Fire

Kristin Crowley alleges Mayor Karen Bass spread misinformation to avoid accountability for the blaze's devastation.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The former Los Angeles fire chief, Kristin Crowley, has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging that her ouster was part of an orchestrated effort by Mayor Karen Bass to smear her conduct and decision-making in order to avoid accountability for the most destructive wildfire in LA history - the January 2025 Palisades Fire.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights the political tensions and blame-shifting that can occur in the aftermath of a major disaster, with the former fire chief accusing the mayor of spreading misinformation to protect her own reputation and avoid scrutiny over her actions during the crisis.

The details

Crowley was fired by Bass a month after the Palisades Fire, which destroyed or damaged nearly 8,000 homes, businesses and other structures, and killed at least 12 people. The lawsuit alleges that Bass made false statements to shift blame, including claiming she was unaware of the dangerous wildfire conditions prior to leaving for a presidential delegation, that the fire department's budget was not cut, and that more firefighters could have been deployed to fight the blaze.

  • The Palisades Fire began on January 7, 2025 during heavy winds.
  • Kristin Crowley was fired by Mayor Karen Bass on February 21, 2025, six weeks after the fire started.
  • In March 2025, Crowley lost an appeal to the City Council to win back her job.

The players

Kristin Crowley

The former Los Angeles fire chief who was fired by Mayor Karen Bass after the Palisades Fire and is now suing the city.

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles who fired Kristin Crowley and is accused of spreading misinformation to avoid accountability for the Palisades Fire.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“These false statements were not mistakes but part of a deliberate strategy to divert scrutiny from Bass' decisions and to avoid accountability.”

— Kristin Crowley, Former Los Angeles Fire Chief

What’s next

The lawsuit filed by Kristin Crowley seeks unspecified economic and compensatory damages from the city of Los Angeles.

The takeaway

This case highlights the political tensions that can arise in the aftermath of a major disaster, with accusations of blame-shifting and cover-ups between city officials. It raises questions about transparency, accountability, and the role of politics in emergency response and management.