Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Christine Crowley is suing for the termination of Mayor Karen Bass as the city is tackling tensions following the fatal wildfires earlier this year.
Crowley announced her decision on Thursday to appeal the dismissal in a letter to city council members. KTLA 5 reported.
She said she chose to proceed with the appeal offered to her and was looking forward to hearing from the councillor about her next steps.
The bus removed Crowley last week. Tensions broke out over how the department handled wildfires and response efforts.
Bass argued that the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) needed “new leadership,” and that she was acting in the city's greatest public safety interests.
“We know there were 1,000 shootouts that could have been on duty in the morning. “And the necessary step into the investigation was to be the chairman of the fire committee and tell Secretary Crowley to give an after-fact report on the fire. The chief refused. These require her removal.”
Crowley claimed that the city had failed her department during the fire and that she was unable to use water resources to help the situation.
The base's decision to kick Crowley out attracted criticism from the public who faced harsh questions about the number of fire engines available on wildfire day.
Crowley, who was appointed LAFD chief in 2022, said that after his firing, he was an honor to lead the fire department and the Los Angeles community, and that he has worked for over 25 years.
In a statement to the hill, Bass spokesman Zach Seidl said: “Former Crowley has the right to sue her dismissal.”
For more information, Hill reaches out to Crawley.
