A text message sent between former LAFD chief Christine Crowley led to a tragic wildfire in LA County, which took coordination and direction from multiple agencies a few weeks after the show, protecting residents at their best capabilities.
On the morning of January 7th, LA City emergency manager Carroll Parks texted Crowley and LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell about 5am. Her office established a Level 3 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in the wake of expected strong winds and dangerous dry conditions. About five hours later, the palisades in the Pacific began to burn, followed by a series of other small fires and a larger brush fire in Altadena. The Palisades were both bulged to burn over 37,000 acres in the fire and Eton fire.
Once Level 3 EOC is active, emergency personnel are ready to respond in the event of an opportunity. Usually, this is a step that outweighs what normal operation looks like, in anticipation of potential dangers. The days leading up to the fatal brush fire in LA County promised dangerous weather conditions, and meteorologists warned that strong Santa Ana winds were linked to low humidity.
When the flames tore several communities in the area, Crowley follows up the park around 6:30pm that same day, instructing Level 2 EOC to escalate the issue, the text shows. On January 8th, Parks asked the former fire chief to consider moving things to Level 1 EOC as conditions continued to deteriorate and firefighters struggled to deal with the fire.
Firefighters faced several challenges due to the rapid fires in Palisade and Altadena in the Pacific Ocean. Things became even more difficult as the crew grew thinner as other brush fires began to occur throughout Southland.
On January 8th, Janice Kinons, CEO and Chief Engineer of LA Water and Fire Department, asked Crawley if her team could access unspecified points. She said she “evacuated before setting up the intro-station,” and warned that if the team had access, “we ran out of water in about two hours.”
The department is currently the subject of state investigations considering water system failures. Residents of Palisades in the Pacific were furious after hours of firefighting, and some of the fire hydrants were dry.
In addition to the adjustment, the text showed support for Crawley, sent by residents and her colleagues.
“You killed it!! The text of LAFD Battalion Chief Nikki Brodowy reads. How to Go to Chief! I’m glad to see you throw politics out the door!”
Brodowy sent the message on January 10th in connection with a televised interview with Crowley. She criticized the city’s budget cuts, which she said, made it difficult for firefighters to properly deal with fires. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the budget cuts had no impact on LAFD’s response.
After weeks of tension between the LA City leader and the fingers, Bass announced that Crowley had been fired from his position as LAFD chief last month. Crawley has since continued to work with the department.
Crowley announced on Tuesday that he would sue his dismissal before the city council. She needs 10 councillors on her side with her to get back.
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