NBC news is reporting on a suddenly scheduled late afternoon meeting at Mayor Karen Bass’ office before a scheduled press conference this evening. The Mayor had summoned Fire Chief Kristen Crowley to her office for an unknown reason, which also resulted in the delay, and then cancellation of this evening’s scheduled press conference for fire incident management officials. The LAPD spokesperson was the only agency present at the press event and there was no explanation given for the absence of other officials for an incident briefing, nor any mention of the late meeting between the LAFD Fire Chief and the Mayor.
The Daily Mail has reported that LAFD Chief Crowley has been fired, and NBC reporter Rob Kovacik who was on the scene at the Mayors office is trying to confirm the report.
Chief Crowley had made statements critical of budget cuts to the Department, and openly contradicted Mayor Bass’ assurances that the budget cuts had no effect on the LAFD response capability. In an NBC interview with Chief Crowley this afternoon, Chief Crowley pointed to a lack of mechanics and insufficient budget to repair Fire apparatus and ambulances left the city without sufficient surge capacity to respond as they could have during the recent catastrophic fires in the City.
With the most destructive fire ever to hit LA City still in progress, its a bad time for internal squabbling and politics to interrupt the Fire Command structure. Standby for further developments.
