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In a series of extraordinary interviews, Los Angeles Fire Department chief Kristin Crowley has unloaded on the failure of the city’s government to deliver the resources needed to effectively fight fires.
Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley at a press conference last year.Credit: AP
Yesterday at a press conference when Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass denied that a $US17.6 million ($28.6 million) budget cut to the Los Angeles Fire Department was not relevant to the response to the current wildfires, Crowley stood by her side and said she was working with the mayor’s office. When asked about a previous memo she had written warning about the impact of $US7 million in cuts to overtime funding, Crowley said she was focused on using the budget she had been allotted and had made the necessary adjustments.
However, today she has been singing a different tune in interviews with outlets across the political spectrum, from Fox News to CNN.
On Fox, she was asked repeatedly if the city of Los Angeles had failed her and her department. After explaining it was her job to clearly speak up for what the fire department needed to operate to meet the demands of the community, the reporter again asked, “did they fail you?” and Crowley finally responded “yes”.
She has made similar comments on other outlets.
On CNN, Crowley emphasised that the $US17 million in budget cuts to the fire department had indeed hampered its ability to fight fires.
Let me be clear, the $US17 million budget cut and elimination of our civilian positions, like our mechanics, did, and has and will continue to severely impact our ability to repair apparatus.
We have over 100 fire apparatus out of service, and having these apparatus and the proper amount of mechanics would have helped. And so it did absolutely negatively impact.
Crowley also emphasised that she had repeatedly sounded the alarm about funding cuts.
I want to also be clear that I have, over the last three years, been clear that the fire department needs help. We can no longer sustain where we are. We do not have enough firefighters.
With that, I have also requested multiple budgets, interim budgets, to show how understaffed, under-resourced and underfunded the LAFD is. We have clear data that shows the LAFD needs more help.
We need 62 more fire stations. These reports also show that we’ve had a 55 per cent increase in overall call volume since 2010 and guess what? We’re doing it with less firefighters.
Crowley said she was directed to develop a plan as part of a budget reduction exercise that could equate to $US48.8 million. She warned that those additional cuts could be devastating for the fire department’s ability to provide public safety.
She said it would have resulted in 15 fire stations closing down and potentially the elimination of over 300 firefighters. Instead, she submitted “a very large budget that will actually allow our firefighters to do their job”.
Data published by the LA city controller last year showed the Los Angeles Fire Department received funding cuts, while the Los Angeles Police Department received a boost. The city finances are in budget deficit.