As firefighters gradually get the upper hand over wildfires that have decimated the city, Los Angeles’ fire chief is facing calls to resign for failing to prepare for the fires.
Numerous news outlets report the chief’s critics are targeting the city’s failure to preposition fire apparatus and the decision to allow a shift to be released rather than retaining more firefighters on overtime leading up to the fires that broke out. And in the bigger picture, critics are upset that the city has not done a better job of forest management and several city reservoirs were empty for repair when the fire broke out.
NewsNation reported that it has obtained a scathing five-page letter from current and former Los Angeles Fire Department officials calling for the resignation of the fire chief.
The letter accuses Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and her command staff of critical failures, including inadequate preparation and ineffective leadership.
“If you had done things right and prepared the LAFD for an incident of this magnitude, fatalities would have been reduced, and property would have been saved,” the letter states. It also highlights the fallout from the exodus of over 125 senior commanders under her tenure.
Crowley’s spokesman told the New York Times that the chief remains focused on fighting the fires and praised the efforts of firefighters.
Visit the New York Times for more.
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