Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced on Friday (Saturday AEST) she has fired Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, citing in part her response to last month's devastating Palisades wildfire, among the most destructive in California's history.

Bass has appointed former Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva as interim fire chief. Villanueva served with the LAFD for 41 years before retiring in September 2024.

Kristin Crowley has made her first public comments since she was removed as the chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department by Mayor Karen Bass on Friday. The firing was made effective immediately on Friday morning.