Kristin M. Crowley is an American firefighter who was the chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) from 2022 to 2025.[2][3][4]

Career

Crowley passed the firefighters' exam in 1998, finishing in the top 50 out of more than 16,000 tests taken.[2] She joined the LAFD in 2000. During her time at the department, she has held the roles of firefighter, paramedic, engineer, fire inspector, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, fire marshal and deputy chief.[5] Crowley became Los Angeles' first female fire marshal in 2016.[2]

Crowley was named Fire Chief in 2022, replacing Ralph Terrazas, who had assumed the role in 2014.[3] Upon her appointment, Crowley noted that in addition to "maintaining firefighters' safety, health and overall well-being", she planned to promote a "work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination and hazing".[6] As Chief, Crowley encouraged programs that increased diversity in the department, saying that a diverse department was needed to serve a diverse city.[7]

In 2023, she was appointed to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, the second fire chief to serve in that role.[8] In June 2024, Crowley was a grand marshal at Los Angeles Pride.[9] She oversaw the department's response to the January 2025 Southern California wildfires.[5]

On February 21, 2025, Mayor Karen Bass fired Crowley, claiming that Crowley had left the department unprepared in advance of the outbreak of the Palisades Fire.[10] Bass was in Ghana during the fires, which she linked to Crowley's having failed to warn her of the fire danger, although Crowley has pushed back on this.[11] The decision to fire Crowley was criticized by many,[12] including philanthropist and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso,[13][14] who alongside various media outlets linked the firing to Crowley speaking out about fire department budget cuts.[15][16][17]

Personal life

Crowley is a lesbian, married, and the mother of three children.[2]

References

  1. ^ Wilson, Wendy (Summer 2023). "Forging the Future of LAFD". Saint Mary's College. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Kristin Crowley sworn in as LAFD's first openly-gay, female chief". City News Service. March 25, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Garcetti names first female fire chief as LAFD faces harassment complaints". Los Angeles Times. 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  4. ^ "LA Times Today: Meet Kristin Crowley, nominated as LAFD's first female fire chief". Los Angeles Times. 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  5. ^ a b McHardy, Martha (2025-01-08). "Who is Kristin Crowley? Los Angeles fire chief faces wave of anger". Newsweek. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  6. ^ de Koos, Camila Thur; Perez, Nate (2022-03-01). "Kristin Crowley Will Be LA's First Female And Openly Gay Fire Chief". LAist. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  7. ^ Haskell, Josh (2024-06-05). "LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley reflects on breaking barriers and acceptance ahead of Pride Parade". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  8. ^ "Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley to Advise Department of Homeland Security". Homeland Security Today. 2023-08-17. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  9. ^ Patel, Jaysha (2024-05-15). "LA Pride Parade announces grand marshals: George Takei, Cassandro El Exotico, Kristin Crowley". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  10. ^ Hylton, Chelsea (2025-02-21). "Mayor Bass removes LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley effective immediately - CBS Los Angeles". www.cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on 21 Feb 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
  11. ^ Jimenez, Jesus; Nagourney, Adam; Hubler, Shawn (February 21, 2025). "Bass Removes Kristin Crowley, L.A. Fire Chief, Blaming Her for Lack of Preparation". The New York Times. Retrieved February 21, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Araujo, Ernesto Centeno; Loria, Michael (February 21, 2025). "LA Mayor Karen Bass ousts Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley". USA Today. Retrieved February 21, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Faheid, Dalia (February 21, 2025). "Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass fires Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley". CNN. Retrieved February 21, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Granville, Samantha (February 21, 2025). "LA mayor sacks fire chief, blames her for mishandling wildfires". BBC. Retrieved February 21, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "LA mayor Karen Bass removes fire chief after public rift over wildfire response". The Guardian. February 21, 2025. Retrieved February 21, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Helsel, Phil; Lavietes, Matt; Romero, Dennis (February 21, 2025). "L.A. Mayor Karen Bass removes fire chief over tensions during deadly blazes". NBC News. Retrieved February 21, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Mason, Melanie; Begert, Blanca (February 21, 2025). "Karen Bass ousts LA fire chief after weeks of public rift". POLITICO. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristin_Crowley
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