Bass said she removed Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley from her position after the fire department chose not to position many of its firefighting resources ahead

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Friday, Feb. 21, removed Kristin Crowley as the city’s fire chief, ending weeks of speculation about Crowley’s future as head of the L.A. Fire Department – though Crowley will remain in a lower position with the fire department.

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.