Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley is sounding the alarm over severe budget cuts that she says directly worsened the city’s response to the devastating wildfires tearing through the region. Crowley warned that recent funding reductions have crippled the department’s ability to protect residents and property.
During an appearance on CNN, Crowley criticized a $17 million budget cut that gutted essential resources. “Any budget cut would negatively impact our ability to carry out our mission,” Crowley stated. She emphasized that her duty is to ensure firefighters have the necessary equipment and support to respond effectively to emergencies.
Crowley also revealed that the elimination of civilian support roles, particularly mechanics, has been disastrous. She noted that over 100 fire engines are currently out of service because there are not enough staff to maintain them. “Having the proper amount of mechanics would have helped,” Crowley said, stressing how critical these positions are for keeping firefighting equipment operational.
BREAKING: The Fire Chief that blasted elected officials in California just doubled down on their failures!
They need to resign ASAP!
"The $17 million budget cut and the elimination of our civilian positions, like our mechanics did, has and will continue to severely impact our… pic.twitter.com/XsRxqYN5oG
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) January 10, 2025
The Los Angeles Fire Department is facing increasing demands with fewer resources. Crowley highlighted a 55% surge in emergency calls since 2010, yet the department has not seen a corresponding increase in staffing or funding. She also warned that potential future cuts of nearly $49 million could force the closure of 15 fire stations and result in the loss of over 300 firefighter positions.
L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley warned Mayor Karen Bass (D) last month the $17+ million she cut from the department's budget "severely limited the department's capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires" pic.twitter.com/tgzIAeHIsQ
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) January 9, 2025
🚨 #BREAKING: LA Fire Chief calls out Mayor Bass for slashing the Fire Department’s budget
Chief Crowley confirms she warned the Mayor that the Fire Department would NOT be able to handle potential wildfires, but the Mayor insisted on cuts anyway.
REPORTER: “Did the city fail… pic.twitter.com/0atW9sBYxT
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 10, 2025
Families across Los Angeles County are now paying the price for these funding decisions. Residents like Castey Fortich were forced to flee their homes in the middle of the night, leaving behind everything they owned. Many evacuees expressed frustration over how unprepared the city seemed in the face of disaster.
Democrats in Sacramento CUT wildfire prevention by 80% at the same time LA Mayor Karen Bass slashed her fire department budget—even when her own Fire Chief warned those cuts would limit their ability to fight a fire like this. This is inexcusable and we need to kick every… pic.twitter.com/hyYnWOlJh5
— Bill Essayli (@billessayli) January 10, 2025
LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley just wrecked Mayor Karen Bass:
“Let me be clear. The $17M budget cut and elimination of our civilian positions like our mechanics did and has and will continue to severely impact our ability to repair our apparatus.”
Someone is losing their job. pic.twitter.com/OaPNasS3oZ
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 10, 2025
Chief Crowley’s warnings raise serious concerns about how budget decisions are affecting public safety. Without proper funding, Los Angeles may continue to struggle to protect its communities from future disasters.
