Kristin Crowley was appointed as Los Angeles Fire Chief in 2022, becoming the first woman and openly gay individual to hold the position. Her appointment came during a turbulent time for the department, which was plagued by complaints of hazing, discrimination, and harassment. Then-Mayor Eric Garcetti positioned Crowley as a stabilizing force for the 3,400-member fire department.
Three years later, Crowley’s relationship with city leadership has faced strain. The Pacific Palisades fire, the most destructive in the city’s history with over 5,000 structures burned, has put officials on the defensive. The crisis has also led to public friction between Crowley and Mayor Karen Bass over resources.
On Friday, Crowley criticized budget cuts she said have hampered the department’s ability to respond to a growing number of calls. She also pointed to Tuesday’s water shortages, where 20% of the hydrants used in the fire were dry. “I’m not a politician; I’m a public servant,” she told CNN. “My job as Fire Chief is to ensure our firefighters have what they need to do their jobs.”
In response to speculation about Crowley’s position, fueled by her criticisms, the firefighters’ union issued a statement reaffirming her role. Mayor Bass also sought to downplay tensions, emphasizing a shared focus on combating the fires and saving lives.
Despite these reassurances, Crowley’s leadership has come under scrutiny from national commentators. Conservative critics have linked her diversity efforts to operational challenges, though there’s no evidence these initiatives have impeded fire response. Crowley has made diversifying the predominantly male department a priority, aiming to improve inclusivity and address longstanding issues of harassment.
Addressing operational and financial challenges
Water shortages also speak of systemic issues that are beyond Crowley’s control. The authority on water supply to a hydrant is Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. They said they were overwhelmed with the demand on the aging infrastructure of the city. Governor Gavin Newsom recently ordered an investigation on these failures as, according to Crowley, no agency was ever prepared. As she said in a recent interview, “When a firefighter gets to a hydrant, we expect water.”
Crowley inherited a department which itself has huge cultural and operational problems. When she entered office, women made up just 3-5 percent of the department’s uniformed personnel — a statistic much paralleled across the country. The surveys revealed that harassment was widespread, particularly among females and minorities. Crowley, who is married to an ex-firefighter, promised to make it a safe and welcoming workplace to all employees.
Another budget cost complication has arisen into her leadership. Crowley has warned time and again that budget cuts with the latest being $7 million in overtime pay has grossly affected the department’s capabilities to train toward large, curved emergencies, such as wildfires and earthquakes. They have also lost a civilian position as well as mechanics which slow down vehicle repairs; hence, the department is not prepared.
Although city officials have declared some budgeting increases late, it is expected but still not guaranteed that some will go into the firefighting resources. Mayor Bass said the resources would be sufficiently available for the department, although he promised a holistic review later after the current crisis is over.
A career built on dedication and experience
Kristin Crowley’s biography-now transformed into an absolutely wondrous odyssey-has brought her to the position of fire chief of Los Angeles. Green Bay, Wisconsin, is her birthplace, where she originally prepared to pursue medicine, learning biology in the hopes of one day becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Then she changed course and went to California to work as a paramedic; this was where her life completely changed and she entered the fire department.
In a 2022 interview, she recalled, “When I walked into the fire station, I felt an immediate connection-it was just like being part of the camaraderie and teamwork I had as a student athlete.”
The future Mayor Garcetti characterized Crowley as both historic and the best candidate for the job, backing it up by saying that her winning quality to lead the city’s fire protection efforts was in all those years of service during which she participated in nearly all roles in the departmental structure- from fire prevention supervisor to battalion chief.
While underneath the shattering fire of Pacific Palisades burning in Los Angeles, Crowley’s leadership still undergoes intense observation. But, despite all odds, she still believes that with resources and reform, her department will effectively protect the city.
