Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristen Crowley gave some candid remarks Friday about how a reduction in the department’s budget and the elimination of civilian positions have hurt the city’s response to the devastating wildfires ravaging the region.
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During interviews with CNN and Fox11, Crowley emphasized how she had been sounding the alarm since the “very beginning” about the needs of the Los Angeles Fire Department. She added that such impacts “did absolutely negatively impact” the department’s response.
“The $17 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,” Crowley said on CNN.
“I want to also be clear that I have, over the last three years, been clear that the Fire Department needs help,” Crowley said. “We can no longer …