Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Appoints Veteran Fire Chief Following Palisades Fire Controversy
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has selected a 30-year fire department veteran, Deputy Chief Jaime Moore, as the new fire chief. This appointment comes months after Bass removed the previous chief over the management of the city’s most destructive wildfire.
Bass announced on Friday that after a nationwide search involving more than 100 candidates, she chose Moore to lead the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). He will inherit a department that recently came under intense scrutiny for its response to the Palisades Fire.
The Palisades Fire erupted on January 7 during periods of heavy winds, devastating nearly 8,000 homes, businesses, and other structures in the affluent Los Angeles neighborhood. At least 12 people lost their lives in the blaze, marking it as the most destructive wildfire in the city’s history.
Bass, a first-term Democrat currently seeking reelection, had fired then-fire chief Kristin Crowley six weeks after the fire. The dismissal followed a very public dispute regarding preparedness for such a disaster and disputes between the fire chief and City Hall over who was responsible for the extensive damage.
New Vision for LAFD Leadership
Chief Jaime Moore has pledged to focus on implementing strategic changes that include enhancing preparation for major disasters and world events, boosting department morale and culture, and ensuring the LAFD is properly staffed and resourced.
“I’m proud to appoint an Angeleno to this role, and I know that he will work to improve the LAFD for everyone in this city,” Mayor Bass said.
The appointment was quickly praised by the firefighters union. The United Firefighters of Los Angeles City posted on X, “Throughout his career with the LAFD, Chief Moore has shown strong leadership and a deep commitment to the department. His background and experience within the ranks has demonstrated that he’s the right leader at the right time to move the LAFD forward.”
About Chief Jaime Moore
Moore currently manages operations for the Valley Bureau, covering a large northern section of Los Angeles which includes 39 fire stations and more than 980 sworn personnel, according to his official biography.
He joined the LAFD in May 1995 and has experience across many roles within the department. In 2018, he was promoted to assistant chief. Though born in Delhi, Louisiana, Moore has lived his entire life in Southern California.
His heritage includes a mother who immigrated from Guadalajara, Mexico, and he was raised bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. Academically, Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a master’s degree in public administration and emergency management from California State University, Long Beach.
A Challenging Political and Operational Landscape
The appointment of Moore arrives at a critical political time for Mayor Bass as she prepares for a reelection campaign scheduled for next year. She faces ongoing challenges including budget constraints, a persistent homelessness crisis, and preparations for the 2028 Olympics, all while the city continues to recover from the January fires.
Moore’s predecessor, Kristin Crowley, was the department’s first female fire chief and was appointed by Bass’ predecessor in 2022 during a turbulent period marked by allegations of harassment, hazing, and discrimination within the department.
Crowley had served the city’s fire department for over 25 years, holding nearly every key role from fire marshal to battalion chief. During her tenure, she raised concerns about budget cuts that led to understaffing and left fire trucks unused because of insufficient maintenance personnel.
Following her removal, the firefighters union sharply criticized Mayor Bass, calling Crowley a “scapegoat.” Crowley subsequently filed a legal claim against the city in August, accusing Mayor Bass of conducting an “orchestrated campaign of misinformation, defamation and retaliation” in the aftermath of the wildfires.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/la-mayor-picks-new-fire-chief-fill-void-126850591
