Los Angeles County (Thechieftainspear) – The devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles County have left widespread destruction in their wake, sparking controversy over the city’s emergency response. As officials focus on rebuilding efforts, new details are emerging about the initial handling of the crisis and the fallout that followed.
Former Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley, who was recently dismissed by Mayor Karen Bass, is challenging her termination, which was largely attributed to her response to the Pacific Palisades fire. That disaster claimed 12 lives, burned through 23,000 acres, and destroyed nearly 7,000 homes.
Text messages obtained by ABC News reveal behind-the-scenes communications leading up to the crisis. A day before the wildfires ignited, Carol Parks, General Manager of the Emergency Management Department, sent Crowley a message: “It’s my first opportunity to send this Public Safety leadership text. Wishing it could have been on a blue sky day, but duty now calls.”
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As the fire raged the following morning, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Tony Marrone messaged Crowley at 11:18 a.m., simply writing, “Not good.” Crowley responded, “No.”
Mayor Bass has defended her decision to remove Crowley, but the former chief’s termination has drawn criticism, particularly from the firefighters’ union, which argues she was dismissed for being candid about the challenges faced during the disaster. “Despite the manufactured reasons that have been publicly offered for her termination, the reality is Kristin Crowley was fired for telling the truth,” the union stated.
Adding to the controversy, Bass faced backlash for traveling to Ghana at the start of the wildfire crisis. She later admitted that leaving the city at such a crucial time was a mistake. “It was a mistake to travel, but I will tell you that we need to evaluate everything,” Bass told KABC-TV. “If I had all of the information that I needed to have, the last thing I would have done was to be out of town.”
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom has been updating the public on rebuilding efforts in heavily impacted areas such as Pacific Palisades and Altadena. His administration is focused on securing disaster relief funding and assisting families who lost their homes.
“Ensuring that survivors have the support they need to rebuild and recover remains our top priority,” Newsom’s office told Newsweek .
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