Kristen Crowley, the former chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department ousted from her position earlier this year, filed a legal claim against the city and Mayor Karen Bass , accusing the mayor of orchestrating “a campaign of misinformation, defamation, and retaliation” and using Crowley as a “scapegoat” to shift blame after the devastating fires in January.

A precursor to a lawsuit, Crowley’s claim seeks unspecified damages above $25,000 for lost wages and benefits, emotional distress, and reputational damages. In the 23-page filing, Crowley alleges that she repeatedly warned of the LAFD’s worsening resource and staffing crisis, and submitted reports detailing how aging infrastructure, surging emergency calls, and shrinking staff had put Los Angeles at risk. Despite these warnings,

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