LOS ANGELES – The former Los Angeles fire chief filed a legal claim Wednesday against the city, alleging that her ouster by Mayor Karen Bass was followed by an orchestrated effort to smear her conduct and decision-making during the most destructive wildfire in LA history.

Former Chief Kristin Crowley's dismissal a month after January's Palisades Fire was followed by finger-pointing between her and City Hall over the blaze's devastation and the fire department’s funding. In March, Crowley lost an appeal to the City Council to win back her job.

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Crowley's legal claim this week alleges that Bass led "a campaign of misinformation, defamation, and retaliation” to protect the mayor's political reputation following the fire.

The mayor's office said Wednesday that it wou

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