Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley on Thursday appealed Mayor Karen Bass’ decision to dismiss her as the fallout from the deadly Southern California wildfires continues, according to multiplenewsreports.
Crowley made her intention to appeal her removal known in a letter addressed to City Council members. Crowley could only be reinstated if two-thirds of the council’s 15 members voted to undo Bass’ order.
A spokesperson for Bass told ABC News that Crowley has the right to request an appeal.
Bass last week said she fired Crowley “acting in the best interests of Los Angeles’ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department.”
“We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch,” Bass said Feb. 21.
Bass added that Crowley also refused to compile an after-action report on the fires, a move she said warranted her removal.
The mayor announced Ronnie Villanueva would serve as interim fire chief.
Crowley’s removal faced widespread criticism, including from Freddy Escobar, the president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, who said Crowley “is being made a scapegoat.”
“On behalf of the firefighters I represent, I am here to say we are outraged at the termination of fire Chief Crowley, period,” Escobar said.
In an earlier statement following her dismissal, Crowley, who has reportedly chosen to stay at the fire department but at a lower rank, made no mention of Bass or her removal, according to KTLA5.
“As the Fire Chief, I based my actions and decisions on taking care of our firefighters so that they could take care of our communities,” she added. “Serving others before self, having the courage and integrity to do what is right, and leading with compassion, love and respect have guided me throughout my career.”
Bass was widely criticized in the wake of the fires for traveling to Ghana as part of an official trip on the same day that the weather service issued a red flag warning for the city. The mayor has conceded taking the trip was a mistake.
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At least 29 people were killed in the Los Angeles wildfires that broke out last month. The blazes also destroyed thousands of homes and structures.