LA fire chief says city failed department amid ongoing Southern California wildfires

Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Chief Kristin Crowley said during an interview Friday that the city failed the department amid the ongoing wildfires in Southern California that have taken at least 11 lives and burned more than 37,000 acres. 

Crowley was interviewed by Fox11 on Friday and asked if the city of Los Angeles failed her department, referring to the Santa Ynez Reservoir being shut down and empty. 

The fire department chief, at first, did not answer the question from Fox11 reporter Gigi Graciette, telling her that the department is tasked with protecting the public. 

Graciette asked again. Crowley did not respond directly. 

After asking for a third time “did they fail you?” Crowley responded “yes.” 

When asked about the Santa Ynez Reservoir, Crowley said that when firefighters operate in the field, they expect to have water, but if there isn’t any available, “they’re going to go find water.” 

“So my stance on this is when a firefighter comes up to a hydrant, we expect there’s going to be water. We don’t control the water supply. Our firefighters are there to protect lives and property and to make sure that we’re properly trained and equipped,” Crowley said on Friday. 

The reservoir in the Pacific Palisades was closed for repairs and empty as wildfires raged through the region, according to multiple media reports. The reservoir normally holds 117 million gallons of water. 

“That’s my position on this. So if there’s no water, I don’t know how the water gets to the hydrants. Please defer that to DWP or whomever controls that part,” she added. “But I can tell you the resiliency of our firefighters. If there’s no water, they’re going to go find water. They’re going to figure out a way to do the best they can with what they’ve got in a very dynamic situation.” 

The DailyMail reported Friday night that the Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) fired Crowley Friday afternoon. 

Bass’s office denied the reporting on Friday night, telling The Hill in an emailed statement that the report “is false.” 

LAFD public information officer Erik Scott then wrote on the social media platform X that Bass and Crowley met on Friday, but clarified that the fire department head “was not dismissed and is in full command of the” LAFD. 

“Their foremost priorities continue to be fighting the current wildfires and safeguarding Angelenos,” Scott wrote just past midnight on Saturday.