Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley is suing Mayor Karen Bass for defamation.
According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, Crowley claims that Bass lied about her decisions during the deadly Palisades Fire and that Bass blamed her for issues such as broken fire engines and shortage of firefighters.
Crowley also said Bass made false statements during her reelection campaign to shift attention away from criticism of the city's wildfire response. The lawsuit claims Bass wrongly accused Crowley of sending firefighters home and failing to keep fire engines ready.
Bass removed Crowley in February 2025, six weeks after the Paliades fire started.
The suit seeks unspecified financial damages that, if awarded, Bass would have to pay personally to Crowley.
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