Former LAFD chief files lawsuit against city of Los Angeles – NBC Los Angeles

The former chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department has filed a lawsuit against the city over her ouster as head of the agency after the deadly Palisades Fire.

The employment retaliation lawsuit alleges violation of retaliation protections in the state labor code and in the state constitution.

Mayor Karen Bass removed Crowley as fire chief in February after the January 2025 Palisades Fire, one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires on record in California, and a public spat between the two over the response to the fire. Crowley remained with the department at a lower rank.

Crowley filed a legal claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, in August that accused Bass of an “orchestrated campaign of misinformation, defamation and retaliation” during and after the fire, which started Jan. 7, 2025 in a severe Santa Ana windstorm.

Bass, who was overseas at the time the fire, lauded the 26-year department veteran in the early hours of the fire, but said she later learned that additional firefighters could have been deployed on the day the Palisades Fire started. Bass also said Crowley refused to prepare a report on the fires.

According to the newly filed court papers, Cowley says after initially praising the fire department’s response, “Bass reversed course,” in order to find someone to blame after criticism of Bass’ absence from Los Angeles at the time of the fire, and her budget decision to cut the operating budget of the fire department.

“She sought to avoid accountability by shifting blame and lying – including falsely claiming that she was not aware of the nationally anticipated weather event, falsely claiming that that the LAFD’s budget was not cut, and falsely claiming that LAFD’s resources would have supported an additional 1,000 firefighters to fight the blaze — claims contradicted by public records and Bass’ own prior statements,” according to the documents.

The lawsuit claims Bass did not tell Crowley she was leaving the country. Bass has said the trip to Ghana as part of a Biden administration delegation was a mistake.

Crowley challenged her removal, including an 11-minute plea to the City Council. In the end, the council voted 13-2 to receive and file the appeal, shelving the matter and effectively ending Crowley’s bid for reinstatement.

During her appeal, Crowley repeated statements that the department was limited because of fire engines that were sidelined for maintenance. Crowley said budget cuts impacted mechanics and mainly affected fire engines and ambulances that needed repair. She also said she recommended working in collaboration the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) on a post-fire report.

Crowley refuted the mayor’s claims that she did not notify her office about the windstorm and potentially life-threatening wildfire conditions.

Twelve people died and nearly 7,000 homes were destroyed in the Palisades Fire.

A Florida man arrested in connection with the Palisades Fire has pleaded not guilty to three federal arson charges. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on Jan. 1, 2025 in the Palisades Highlands. Authorities said that smaller fire re-ignited days later and, fanned by powerful winds, became the Palisades Fire.