Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has become a focal point of criticism as Southern California faces historically destructive wildfires. Crowley, who made history as the first woman and openly LGBTQ+ person to lead the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), has faced accusations that her focus on diversity efforts has come at the expense of operational readiness. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The fires, which have spread uncontrollably due to a combination of climate-related conditions, have wreaked havoc across the region. While the direct cause of the blazes remains undetermined, the extreme conditions—including parched vegetation, record-low humidity, and hurricane-force winds—have rendered suppression efforts nearly impossible. Despite this, critics have seized upon the situation to target Crowley’s leadership and diversity initiatives.
Among the detractors is conservative actor James Woods, who posted on X, “Refilling the water reservoirs would have been a welcome priority, too, but I guess she had too much on her plate promoting diversity.” Woods’ Pacific Palisades home was one of the many that burned in the coastal neighborhood.
“I don’t give a sh*t about how you’re taking care of somebody inside the firehouse, take care of me and my home and my kids and my animals when the fires hit, that’s your real job,” Megyn Kelly fumed on her SiriusXM program.
Similarly, CNN commentator Scott Jennings blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives for the department’s challenges in addressing the fires. In response, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) dismissed such claims, stating, “Stop trying to act as if only White men are the ones that are capable because right now, you’re sitting at a table with three very capable Black women.”
Los Angeles’ water system was overwhelmed by the demands of the fires, which required water usage four times higher than normal for 15 hours, according to Janisse Quiñones, head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
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While meaningful discussions about infrastructure are undoubtedly necessary, we hope the Internet can move past blaming women and queer people for this catastrophic disaster.
Crowley’s tenure as fire chief began in 2022 after she was nominated by former Mayor Eric Garcetti. At the time, Garcetti emphasized that his decision was based on Crowley’s extensive experience and public safety expertise rather than her gender or sexual orientation.
With over two decades of experience in the LAFD, Crowley has built an impressive career, serving as a firefighter, paramedic, engineer, fire inspector, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, fire marshal, and deputy chief. Notably, she became the city’s first female fire marshal in 2016 and achieved a top 50 ranking out of 16,000 applicants during her firefighter exam in the late 1990s.
The LAFD continues to battle the ongoing wildfires. Weather forecasts indicate some relief as Santa Ana winds are expected to diminish, potentially aiding firefighting efforts.
